Hero MotoCorp Limited announced the appointment of Harshavardhan Chitale as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 5, 2026. The decision was made during a board meeting held on September 8, 2025, as disclosed in regulatory filings to the National Stock Exchange and BSE Limited.
Chitale will replace Vikram Kasbekar, who has served as Acting Chief Executive Officer. Following the transition, Kasbekar will continue with the company as Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer on Hero MotoCorp's board.
The incoming CEO brings over three decades of global leadership experience across business-to-business and business-to-consumer sectors. Chitale most recently served as Global CEO of Signify's Professional Business division, a €4 billion operation spanning 70 countries with 12,000 employees. In this role, he oversaw manufacturing, supply chain operations, product development, and digital transformation initiatives.
Prior to his tenure at Signify, Chitale held the position of Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Philips Lighting India, where he managed the company's transition into a standalone public entity. His career also includes leadership positions at HCL Infosystems and Honeywell Automation India.
Chitale holds an engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he received the Director's Gold Medal. Beyond his corporate roles, he maintains investments in electric vehicles, clean energy, health technology, and agricultural technology sectors.
Hero MotoCorp, headquartered in New Delhi, is one of India's largest motorcycle manufacturers. The company has been navigating leadership transitions while maintaining its position in the domestic two-wheeler market. The appointment comes as the automotive industry faces challenges related to electric vehicle adoption and changing consumer preferences.
The regulatory filing was submitted under the Securities and Exchange Board of India's listing obligations and disclosure requirements, which mandate public companies to inform shareholders of significant management changes.