ITV

Tag: automotive industry

  • TVS Motor turbocharges its global team with Peyman Kargar at the helm

    TVS Motor turbocharges its global team with Peyman Kargar at the helm

    MUMBAI: Bengaluru has just thrown another spice into the global business curry with TVS Motor Company’s latest executive shuffle. The appointment of Peyman Kargar as head of international business isn’t just another corporate chess move—it’s akin to placing a turbocharger in an already speeding vehicle. Settling in Dubai, Kargar is expected to race through the global markets with the grit of a seasoned rally driver.

    With a swagger that could rival any high-flyer’s, Kargar steps into his new role with over three decades of vrooming across the automotive sectors of Europe, Asia, and the middle east. “Peyman’s prolific global leadership experience and expertise will add significant value to the company,” declared TVS Motor Company director & CEO K.N. Radhakrishnan.

    Having previously chaired the luxury skids as Infiniti global chairman & president, and having steered Nissan’s Datsun across 80 countries, Kargar isn’t new to the fast lanes. His stint with Infiniti turned heads not just for sleek designs but for robust sales, catapulting the brand’s volume by 20 per cent and cruising towards a billion-dollar profit mark. Before his grand tour with Nissan and Renault, Kargar had already been mapping the terrains of 50 countries, steering a whopping 4 billion euros in turnover. It’s safe to say, when it comes to the global auto-route, Kargar knows every shortcut and speed bump.

    Stationed in Dubai, the crossroad of continents, Kargar’s gearbox is well-equipped with a Mechanical Engineering degree and an MBA focusing on finance, strategy, and leadership. This isn’t just about managing auto parts; it’s about driving a corporate philosophy that shifts gears towards expansive horizons. “We are confident that under his leadership, we will further strengthen our market position and continue to set benchmarks. We wish him the very best and welcome him to the TVSM family,” Radhakrishnan revved up.

    For now, Kargar’s hands are firmly on the wheel, and it looks like he’s got the road map to success.

  • Harman welcomes Christian Sobottka as new CEO; Michael Mauser hung his boots after 27 years

    Harman welcomes Christian Sobottka as new CEO; Michael Mauser hung his boots after 27 years

    MUMBAI: A changing of the guard is underway at Harman International, the tech powerhouse behind cutting-edge automotive, consumer, and enterprise innovations. Michael Mauser, the company’s longtime leader, is stepping down as president & CEO on 31 March 2025, making way for Christian Sobottka, who will officially assume the role on 1 April 2025.

    After 27 years at Harman, Mauser has decided to pass the baton, having led the company through industry-defining moments, including Samsung’s acquisition in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global semiconductor shortages. Under his leadership, Harman hit $11 billion in revenue, achieved record profitability, and amassed a jaw-dropping $45 billion in automotive business backlog.

    “After nearly three decades with Harman and aligned with our diligent succession planning process, I have decided to step away to spend more time with my family and explore new opportunities,” Mauser said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and confident in Christian’s ability to lead Harman into its next chapter.”

    Stepping up is Sobottka, a seasoned automotive industry veteran with over 25 years of experience. Since taking over as president of Harman’s automotive division in 2021, Sobottka has been at the forefront of major transformations, steering Harman towards a product- and software-focused model. His expertise in advanced in-cabin experiences and strategic automotive partnerships makes him the ideal choice to drive Harman’s next wave of innovation.

    “I am honored to assume the role of president & CEO of Harman,” Sobottka said. “Building on our legacy of innovation and excellence, I look forward to working with our talented teams to drive the next phase of growth and continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and partners.”

    Harman’s board of directors chairman Young Sohn praised Mauser’s unwavering leadership and vision, stating, “We extend our deepest gratitude to Michael for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to Harman’s success. His strategic vision has positioned the company for continued growth. We are confident that Christian’s extensive experience and proven track record make him the ideal leader to guide Harman into the future.”

    Alongside Sobottka’s appointment, Harman’s lifestyle division president Dave Rogers will join the board of directors, marking another shift in the company’s leadership team.

    With its legacy of cutting-edge innovation, Harman remains committed to revolutionising connected technology across automotive, consumer, and enterprise markets. The transition from Mauser to Sobottka signals a new era of growth, software-driven advancements, and global expansion.

  • Ceat gears up to drive hard during the IPL20

    Ceat gears up to drive hard during the IPL20

    NEW DELHI: It does not seem to be tiring of its partnership with the IPL. Leading Indian tyre maker Ceat has been associated with the world’s most valued cricket league since 2015.  And it has once again gone ahead and partnered with the BCCI as a strategic time out partner. It first put its money behind the property in 2015 for three years, Then in 2018, it renewed its arrangement with the board for another five years. Ceat also forged an association with the  ICC World Cup in 2019 too and adopted a digital-only strategy.

    What exactly is the strategic timeout in the IPL world?

    It is a two and a half minute break from the game. The bowling side can take it between the sixth and eight overs, while the batting team can call for it between the eleventh and sixteenth overs. It was  introduced in 2009, when the IPL was shifted to South Africa courtesy the Indian elections. Popular Bollywood tracks play out loud on the stadium’s sound system. The cheerleaders break into a synchronized choreographed routine on the makeshfit stage in a corner of the ground, beyond the boundary rope. Spectators exit to pick up some refreshments. The players get a chance to rework their strategy and possibly sip some water. The umpires, well they simply catch their breaths. Brand commercials are played out on the large screens in various parts of the stadium. And finally a clock counts down to the start of the game after the break, giving the official strategic timeout partner amazing exposure as audiences can’t miss it.

    This year, Ceat will be releasing a new campaign during the IPL targeting premium sedan users across media. “The intention is to reach a wider audience and build on our brand objectives. We intend to be present across offline as well as the digital mediums,” asserts CeatTyres CMO Amit Tolani.

     “We will be targeting consumers in their context in the digital space. We continue to be aggressive in the online as well as offline mediums, given our campaign objectives. The idea is to connect with the consumers where they are present and engage with them in their language and platform of choice,” says Tolani.

    It is not certain how much the brand paid for the association but media reports say that Ceat paid Rs 30 crore in the last season of IPL.

    However, this year the IPL is a completely different experience, especially with no spectators in the stadium. So, how does a brand like Ceat derive ROI?

    Tolani agrees that the brand will miss out in terms of ground exposure like it used to get in the past. But he is appreciative of the fact that the matches will be live on TV and on Disney+Hotstar. “The audiences will get a chance to see their favorite cricketers on screen after a long break. With the culture of work from home across the industries, we believe more people will be latched onto the screen and hence we can expect a wider reach for our brand and the messaging that we want to drive,” he shares.

    He further elucidates that most of the IPL viewership is during prime time, so when a brand has an opportunity within this time slot,  it is able to reach a massive audience.

    This understanding of Ceat is bang on because the IPL generated an unimaginable viewership of 462 million in 2019 – bigger than any other prime time or non-prime time finite fiction, reality, or nonfiction shows across channels.

    In 2019, Ceat released a campaign for one of its tyres called Milaze X3 and the IPL helped in amplifying the message of making mobility safer and smarter.

    “We intend to use a similar approach again with a new premium range of our tyres. We have launched a host of our campaigns via the strategic time out association and it has always been delivering results. Along with this, we also plan a lot of digital activations, etc. to engage with our community. We intend to continue with the same rigor this year as well,” adds Tolani.

    He divulges further that when a marketing campaign comes out and runs across different channels, advertisers always look for that perfect equilibrium between reach and frequency. “When you have a new campaign breaking out, you need to have a higher frequency as well to drive your communication, different channels of advertising serve different objectives. Brands have to stay true to the platform and tweak the communication according to the medium,” he explains.

    It’s not as if the brand has been silent during the Covid period. Ceat released a social media campaign titled, ‘The Unsung Heroes’ which saluted truck drivers who served their nation during the difficult times and ensured timely delivery of essential goods.

    Some of Ceat’s previous brand campaigns have been extremely hilarious but bang on when it comes to delivering the message. Be it the ‘Idiots’ or Mahapurush film, the focus has always been on road safety. The Mahapurush campaign focused more on the person who makes every rider/driver’s worst nightmare come true – be it the guy who runs and stops ahead of your bike without any warning, or the one who thinks his hand can stop any vehicle with just a gesture.