Read by: 100 Industry Professionals
Read by 
New Delhi: As part of its strategy to grow across digital domains in the industry, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country’s largest carmaker, announced on Wednesday that it has appointed Dr Tapan Sahoo and Sunil Kakkar to new roles within the company.
Last year, Dr. Sahoo was elevated from the position of ED – engineering to head the digital enterprise vertical. With the latest move, his portfolio has now been expanded to include the role of head – digital enterprise (DE) and information & cyber security.
He will assume his new role on April 1, and the term will be for full-time employment, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Sunil Kakkar has been elevated as an additional director and whole-time director, designated as director (corporate planning). His appointment is for a period of three years with effect from April 1, 2025 up to March 31, 2028.
The company’s Board also approved the change in designation of Kenichiro Toyofuku from director (corporate planning) to director (sustainability) with effect from April 1, this year.
Dr Tapan Sahoo
According to the company, Dr. Sahoo is responsible for chalking out strategies for new age technology solutions for enhanced customer experience, operational efficiency improvement using cutting edge technologies like AI/ML, collaboration with startups and academia etc.
He has over 33 years of experience in product planning, design & development, supplier development, technology, cost and programme management functions. He also played a key role in upgrading Maruti’s R&D capability and supported development of design capability of many auto component suppliers in India.
Dr Sahoo is an alumnus of IIT Delhi (MBA & PhD) and an eminent alumnus & graduate in Electrical Engineering from VSSUT (UCE) – Burla. For his contribution in the field of engineering and technology management, he has been conferred “Fellow” status by “Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE)” and “Society for Technology Management (STEM)”
Sunil Kakkar
Kakkar, who has over 35 years of experience at the maker of Baleno and Grand Vitara, is driving restructuring initiatives to make the organisation more agile and future ready.
Throughout his career in the company, he has held leadership positions, including head of supply chain vertical and serving as the plant head of the Gurgaon production operations. He has also been instrumental in forming joint ventures with companies from Japan, Italy and France for projects such as controllers, AMT technology, plastic fuel tanks, and high-tensile sheet metal technology.
Kakkar also serves as a director on the boards of several MSIL’s Associate Companies, including Mark Exhaust Systems, SKH Metals, and Hanon Climate Systems India. He is also the chairman of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Auto & Auto Ancillaries and a member of the CII Japan Council.
He holds an engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Technology, where he was a gold medallist.
