Mumbai — Stellantis India has hit the refresh button on its top deck as it eyes a gear shift in its growth journey. In a move that’s part strategic, part spring cleaning, and all business, Stellantis announced a realignment of its senior leadership roles aimed at firing up the engines for Jeep, Citroën, and the soon-to-launch Leapmotor brand in India.
Leading the retail convoy is Kumar Priyesh, who now assumes charge as Business Head & Director – Automotive Brands. In plain English: if you’re walking into a Jeep, Citroën, or Leapmotor showroom anytime soon, Kumar’s fingerprints will be all over that customer experience — hopefully in a good way. Sales, network development, and making sure you find your dream SUV without accidentally buying a scooter now fall under his remit.
Meanwhile, Shishir Mishra has been given what we can only call the Swiss Army Knife of portfolios. As Business Head & Director – Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Business (try saying that five times fast), he’ll oversee institutional tie-ups, pre-owned car ventures, finance, insurance, and mobility services. Expect him to pop up everywhere from fleet deals to EV subscriptions to maybe even a Stellantis-backed rickshaw someday. With him at the helm, the word “partnership” might finally get a LinkedIn endorsement boost.
At the top of the pyramid, Shailesh Hazela, CEO & MD of Stellantis India, remains firmly in the driver’s seat, steering strategy and making sure the ship stays on course while also dodging the occasional pothole unique to the Indian market. Think of him as the team principal in this automotive Formula One — minus the champagne and plus a lot of spreadsheets.
The leadership rejig comes just as Stellantis warms up to launch Leapmotor in India — their electric playbook’s next chapter — while also giving Jeep and Citroën some much-needed protein shakes for market muscle.
In a statement with all the right buzzwords, the company reaffirmed its commitment to “agility, collaboration, and innovation,” which loosely translates to: “We’re serious about this. Hold onto your seat belts.”
Let the Stellantis 2.0 era begin. And let’s hope this time, everyone remembers where they parked.
