Hero MotoCorp, a well known two-wheeler company, seems to be upping the ante in Indian auto market as it is eyeing long term growth prospects. The company recently told that it is likely to make two high profile changes in its key positions. As a part of Hero MotoCorp's plans, it will overhaul its Research and Development (R&D) team. Reports have stated that Markus Feichtner, an expert dealing in engine technology, is being roped for managing the operations of newly established Engine Design & Development department. This move closely follows the lines of management rejig, which the two-wheeler manufacturer recently made.
Feichtner was previously working as an Executive Director for Austria based engine supplier, Anstalt fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List (AVL) at India Technical Centre, located in Gurgaon. Being an expert in the field of engine designing, Feichtner had been actively working with the Research and Development team of Hero MotoCorp. It must be noted that AVL had recently tied up with Hero MotoCorp to share technology. The Indian two-wheeler manufacturer is currently building the largest research and development centre at Kukas in Rajasthan. Named as Hero Centre for Global Innovation & R&D, the Rs. 450 crore project is in its final phase. It must be noted that Feichtner will look after all the research and development work of the company from this R&D centre. He is also accredited with setting up AVL's India Technical Centre. With the experience of Markus Feichtner, Hero MotoCorp would be looking to strengthen its development process.
While in other change, the company has appointed Rajat Bhargava to head the Strategy & Performance Transformation department. As told by sources, Bhargava would comprise the top brass of the company and would report directly to Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Pawan Munjal. Reports have suggested that Bhargava would assist Munjal on performance transformation initiatives and would be responsible for developing and executing group performance agenda while defining drive special initiatives. Bhargava holds immense experience in marketing and strategy field, as he has previously worked with McKinsey & Company as a Senior Partner.
He has also co-led McKinsey's Operations and Industrial Practices in India. Also to mention, he led the Purchasing & Supply Management Practice of the company in Asia Pacific. Under his previous job, Bhargava worked with several automobile manufactures, suppliers and industrial component companies to give them bottom line improvements in strategy and organisation transformation. In the recent past, Hero MotoCorp has made significant changes, be it in management or technology sharing. During August 2013, the company established a new wing called Global Business, wherein the marketing function was divided into two separate divisions, namely domestic and international.
