M&M consolidates sales and marketing functions to drive growth

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has announced the consolidation of the sales and marketing functions under Veejay Ram Nakra, who has been redesignated as senior vice-president – Sales and Marketing, Automotive Division, with effect from May 1, 2017.  Nakra will take over from Vivek Nayer, who has now moved to a strategic role at the Group level within the organisation.

According to M&M, the consolidation of the two functions “is part of the company’s focus on simplicity. This includes process simplification, eliminating complexity, inducing positive behaviours at workplace and simplifying structures.”

Speaking on the consolidation and the new appointment, Rajan Wadhera, president – Automotive Sector, M&M, said, “The long-term strategy for our automotive sector is one of simplicity. This is a process under which we will strive to provide best products and services while keeping the systems and processes simple and lucid. The consolidation of the sales and marketing functions under Veejay is the first such action which has been taken under this initiative. This is part of the company’s bigger plans to strategically align both and structure them as a single unit for management, planning and budgetary purposes. Each function will reinforce the other and provide continuity and improved coordination between the two.”

A mechanical engineer and an MBA in marketing, Nakra started his career with Mahindra in 1994. Since then, he has held a range of positions in sales and customer care, corporate planning, project development, new product implementation and establishing and heading businesses in new geographies. Nakra is credited with playing a major role in the development and success of the Scorpio and setting up operations in sub-Sahara Africa as the CEO of Mahindra South Africa. He also played a lead role in building robust sales, service, dealer development and customer care processes for the company. With marketing added to his portfolio, he will also be responsible for planning Mahindra’s future product pipeline, consumer insights and creating and managing the portfolio of both the personal and commercial vehicle brands.