Keerthi Prakash to head Renault-Nissan’s Chennai Plant as MD

Nissan Motor on Friday announced the appointment of Keerthi Prakash as MD, Renault Nissan Automotive India to lead operations at the company’s Alliance plant in Chennai beginning September 1, 2022. 

Keerthi, currently Deputy MD,  Renault Nissan Automotive India  joined the plant in 2008 and has over two decades  of automotive manufacturing experience. He replaces Biju Balendran, who has decided to pursue opportunities outside of Nissan after four  years at the plant, the company said in a statement.

Keerthi joined Renault Nissan Automotive  as bodyshop manager in 2008 before being promoted to senior manager – stamping, body, trim and chassis assembly in 2010.

Following his promotion to Vice President – vehicle production & plant engineering in 2016, he undertook an overseas assignment at Nissan’s headquarters in Japan before  returning to Chennai in 2021 when he was promoted to deputy MD -engineering, quality assurance, production control & parts arrangement, the company added. 

In his new role, Keerthi will report to Frank Torres, President Nissan India operations and functionally to Roddy Macleod, VP of manufacturing and supply chain management for Africa, Middle East and India.

Nissan Motor which   is a 100 percent subsidiary of Japan's Nissan Motor was incorporated in 2005 and offers products across the hatchback, SUV and salon segments in India. Nissan together with its global alliance partner Renault has  a manufacturing plant and an Research & Development (R&D) centre near Chennai.