Yamaha Motor India names Hajime Aota as chairman from 2026

MUMBAI: Yamaha Motor India has appointed Hajime Aota as its new chairman, with the role taking effect from January 1, 2026. Aota steps into the position with a reputation as a long-term strategist and growth architect, bringing with him decades of experience across corporate planning, new ventures and global business development within the Yamaha ecosystem and beyond.

Currently serving as chief strategy officer at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Aota has played a key role in shaping the company’s future-facing agenda, spanning advanced technologies, venture investments and new business models. His career includes senior leadership roles in corporate planning and innovation at Yamaha, chairing Yamaha Motor Ventures in Silicon Valley, and board positions at technology-led firms such as Tier IV and River. Before Yamaha, he held multiple general management roles at Mitsui & Co. across Japan, the UK and global markets.

With this appointment, Yamaha Motor India signals a sharper focus on strategic depth, innovation and international alignment as it navigates an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving mobility landscape. Aota’s blend of financial acumen, venture experience and technology-led thinking positions him to guide the Indian business through its next phase of growth, with a steady hand and an eye firmly on the road ahead.