Harshavardhan Chitale is set to join Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, as the company’s new CEO effective from January 5, 2026. The decision was finalized at a board meeting on September 8, 2025, and disclosed in regulatory filings with the National Stock Exchange and BSE. He will join after Vikram Kasbekar, who is the CEO, following the resignation of Niranjan Gupta earlier this year. Kasbekar will also continue on the board as Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer.
Chitale is known for his skill to lead teams, drive growth, and innovate in fast-changing markets. With more than 30 years of experience across companies like Signify, Honeywell, and HCL. Chitale’s track record speaks for itself. From scaling operations across multiple countries to introducing modern strategies in legacy businesses, he brings a vision and hands-on leadership. Under his guidance, Hero MotoCorp is expected to continue its legacy of reliability while embracing the future of mobility.
Harshavardhan Chitale – Biography
Harshavardhan Chitale – Early Education and Career Journey
Harshavardhan Chitale – Global Work Exposure
Hero MotoCorp Welcomes Harshavardhan Chitale to Lead Its Next Growth Phase
Harshavardhan Chitale – Leadership Transition
Harshavardhan Chitale – Early Education and Career Journey
He holds an engineering degree from IIT Delhi, where he was honored with the Director’s Gold Medal for being the best student of his batch. Over the past three decades, he has held leadership positions across industries such as industrial automation, lighting, IT services, and digital transformation, spanning both B2B and B2C businesses on a global scale.
Before that, he was Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Philips Lighting India, where he successfully executed the spin-off into a standalone public company and reinforced its market leadership. He has also driven impactful growth in CEO roles at HCL Infosystems and Honeywell Automation India, delivering scalable results and shareholder value.
Beyond his corporate journey, Chitale is an active angel investor, with interests in electric vehicles, clean energy, health-tech, and agri-tech ventures. Hero MotoCorp noted that his appointment is closely aligned with the company’s strategy of accelerating its presence in premium motorcycles, electric mobility, and international markets, while pushing ahead with digital and technological transformation.
Harshavardhan Chitale – Global Work Exposure
Over the course of his career, Chitale has lived and worked across India, the United States, and Europe. This diverse exposure has given him a truly global perspective on leadership, innovation, and business transformation; an outlook that has shaped his ability to steer multinational corporations through complex phases of growth, restructuring, and market expansion.
In his most recent role, Harshvardhan served as the Global CEO of Signify’s 4 billion euro Professional Business, where he led 12,000 employees across 70 countries. Under his leadership, the company also strengthened its manufacturing, supply chain, product development, and digital initiatives, while consistently introducing innovative solutions.
Shalini Rath
Hero MotoCorp Welcomes Harshavardhan Chitale to Lead Its Next Growth Phase
Harshavardhan Chitale brings with him not just a history of profitable growth and large-scale transformation, but also hands-on experience in successfully integrating acquisitions to unlock long-term value and synergies.
“Harsh’s proven ability to drive growth, nurture innovation, and lead global transformations makes him the right leader for Hero MotoCorp at this crucial juncture,” said Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp.
Munjal added that Chitale’s vision and energy will help fast-track the company’s ambitions in electric and emerging mobility, premium motorcycles, digitalisation, sustainability, and organisational renewal, setting the stage for the future of mobility. Under his leadership, the company not only doubled its profitability but also became a hub of innovation, launching more than 100 products every year, among them IoT-enabled lighting solutions.
Harshavardhan Chitale – Leadership Transition
Harshavardhan Chitale is widely admired for his sharp strategic vision, flawless execution, and ability to bring out the best in diverse global teams. His leadership approach, often described as ranging “from zero feet to 30,000 feet,” captures his knack for connecting with frontline employees as effectively as he does with boardroom executives.
The company also confirmed that Acting CEO Vikram Kasbekar will work closely with Chitale to ensure a seamless transition. Expressing appreciation, the Board thanked Kasbekar for his leadership and valuable contributions during the interim period. He will continue on the Board as Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer, a role in which he has been instrumental in driving technology and innovation at Hero MotoCorp.
FAQs
Who is Harshavardhan Chitale?
Harshavardhan Chitale is an accomplished business leader with over 30 years of experience across industries like industrial automation, IT services, lighting, and digital transformation. He has held CEO roles at companies like Signify, HCL Infosystems, and Honeywell Automation India.
When will Harshavardhan Chitale join Hero MotoCorp as CEO?
Harshavardhan Chitale will officially take charge as the new CEO of Hero MotoCorp on January 5, 2026.
What is Harshavardhan Chitale’s educational background?
Harshavardhan Chitale holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi, where he was awarded the Director’s Gold Medal for being the best student of his batch.