Stellantis India appoints Shailesh Hazela as its new CEO and MD

Stellantis has announced the appointment of Shailesh Hazela as its new CEO and Managing Director. Shailesh will succeed Aditya Jairaj, who will be relocating to the United States. The transition will take place by mid-July.

Hazela who previously served as Vice-President – Global Purchasing and Supply Chain for India and the Asia Pacific Region for Stellantis, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in driving growth and innovation. Since joining Stellantis in September 2022, he has focused on leveraging the supply base across India, ASEAN, Korea, Japan, and other regions, and developing the supply base for Stellantis in the IAP region.

Shailesh, who has work experience of over 28 years across diverse sectors including automotive, telecommunication and railways, holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering.

“We are delighted to welcome Shailesh Hazela as our new CEO and MD and we would like to thank Aditya for his leadership and contributions to Stellantis India,” said Ashwani Muppasani, COO - Stellantis India & Asia Pacific. “Shailesh's strategic vision and extensive experience will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation in the Indian market. We are confident that Shailesh will lead the company fostering sustainable business growth.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Shailesh Hazela commented, “It is an honour to lead Stellantis in India. Our iconic brands have led the global automobile industry, and I am committed to upholding and advancing this legacy. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Aditya Jairaj for his contributions, and I am committed to fostering sustainable progress with our exceptional teams and partners. I look forward to accelerating technological innovation and strengthening our position in existing and emerging mobility segments.”

Stellantis operates three manufacturing plants (Ranjangaon, Hosur, Thiruvallur), an ICT Hub (Hyderabad) & Software Centre (Bengaluru), and two R&D centres in Chennai and Pune. Stellantis's Make in India initiative is ongoing, with India being the only country to locally produce four Jeep nameplates outside North America (Wrangler, Compass, Meridian, and Grand Cherokee) and the Citroën C5 Aircross outside France.