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
Full Name
Harshavardhan Chitale
Education
B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi
Industries Worked In
Industrial Automation, Lighting, IT Services, Digital Transformation (B2B & B2C)
Notable Positions Held
– Global CEO, Signify (4B euro Professional Business)
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.
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.
The Indian Independence Day is not just a day but an occasion to look back at the oppression that our country has witnessed, reminisce about the glorious battles of the past, pay tribute to the freedom fighters who led us to be independent, and celebrate the present!
All of our Independence Day celebrations are different, but among all these differences, the spirit still somehow remains the same!
Schools, colleges, and universities across the country witness colorful celebrations, office employees usually enjoy their day off or take part in their office celebrations, while content creators and marketers sit back and enjoy their creations come to life!
Yes, Independence Day campaigns are what we are talking about. They are among the most interesting parts of Independence Day.
Much like many other festivities, 15th August is also a happening day, if not the most important day, for the marketers. Entrepreneurs, marketers, and content creators race into their brainstorming and ideation and take up their content development tasks quite early to complete and post them right on the day as scheduled.
With ingenious and mind-boggling advertisement campaigns themed on Independence Day, colored with the colors of India, they have wrapped a significant part of the internet. Many companies shared inspiring Independence Day posts by brands, showcasing patriotism, unity, and creative campaigns to connect with their audience.
If you are also a marketing enthusiast or simply want to know how brands have launched successful Independence Day campaigns throughout the years, then here you will find some unmissable advertisements that will motivate you on Independence Day 2025.
Let’s look at 12 Unforgettable Independence Day Campaigns
Encourages people to express their true style without judgment
Parle-G Armed Forces Campaign
Parle G | Armed Forces Film | Independence Day Campaign Ideas
Brands across India launched creative Independence Day social media campaigns to celebrate patriotism and engage audiences with meaningful content. Parle G is one of the oldest brands of biscuits in India, founded back in 1929, and therefore, remains closely knit with the Indian freedom struggle and independence.
Along with the quality biscuits that Parle G offers, the brand also came up with an outstanding campaign in 2018 for the occasion of Independence Day. This campaign was marketed under #YouAreMyParleG, which was a 2.5-minute-long video launched as a tribute to the soldiers of India.
The film focused on the real life of Ankit Singh behind enemy lines.
Tata Tea Premium Kulhad Campaign
Desh ka Kulhad – Celebrating India’s Rich Diversity | Independence Day Brand Campaigns
Most of the campaigns that we see around us are done with a motive of gaining sales or promoting a brand, but Tata Tea Premium’s Kulhad of 2020 was not one of them. Tata Tea Premium launched the #DeshKaKulhad campaign, where it partnered with Rare Planet to exhibit the rich diversity that India takes pride in in the form of a video.
The brand displayed an incredible collection of hand-painted kulhads by Indian artisans and also promised that the proceeds of the sale from this campaign would directly reach the pandemic-struck craftspeople of India, who are finding it difficult to survive the dreadful pandemic.
Bajaj Avenger Independence Ride Campaign
Bajaj Avenger Independence Day Film #RideYourIndependence | Independence Day Campaigns by Brands
Bajaj Auto wasfounded in 1945 in November and is historically connected with Indian independence. It is one of the oldest Indian auto companies and never fails to amaze the Indians with its inventive Independence Day campaigns.
The #RideYourIndependence campaign by Bajaj in 2017 remains one of the top marketing campaigns launched by any brand for Independence Day. This campaign was a video advertisement that showed a woman driving a Bajaj Avenger through the risky streets and alleyways in shorts and simply enjoying the ride of her life.
The video empowered womankind and ended with a powerful message by Mahatma Gandhi, where he stated, “The day women can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say India has achieved Independence.”
Micromax Tiranga Campaign
#SaveTheTiranga | Independence Day Campaign Ideas
Micromax is a mobile brand rooted in India and is, therefore, an epitome of Indianness among all its Chinese and American counterparts.
Micromax has manufactured a series of mobiles, and many of them have been rated well, but the #SaveTheTiranga campaign launched by this brand to commemorate August 15, 2017, remains etched on our minds.
This campaign was in the form of a video that showed the Indian children who crafted handmade Indian flags. However, the sad part is that they are impoverished, belong to the rural section of the country, and are treated with unspeakable cruelty. The video also focused on the irony that the Indian flags are bought only to show off on 15th August and are finally discovered lying here and there the next day.
Hero MotoCorp is an Indian motorcycle company founded in 1984, headquartered in New Delhi, and is famous for being the country’s as well as the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer.
Apart from its two-wheelers, which are a permanent driving solution for the Indians, Hero MotoCorp’s #HeroSalutes campaign is something that is permanently embedded in the marketing canvas of India.
Through this marketing campaign, Hero gave a tribute to the real heroes of India, who fought for the country but had to stay away from their own families and relatives to ensure the safety of India. It showed that they are always supported by their families and should also be saluted by their countrymen!
ITC Limited is an Indian company headquartered in Kolkata. With diverse business segments such as FMCG, IT, hotels, agriculture, and packaging, the company makes its majority revenue from its tobacco products. ITC’s #HarGharTiranga campaign took a trip down memory lane, evoking nostalgic memories from Independence Day celebrations in school. The ad is a heartfelt tribute to the heroes of the freedom struggle, ultimately leading to India’s independence. Urging us to wave Tiranga, ITC evoked a sea of emotions on celebrating the 75th Independence Day.
JSW Paints Think Beautiful Campaign
JSW Paints – Independence Day | Think Beautiful Film
JSW is a million-dollar conglomerate primarily dealing in cement, infrastructure, energy, and steel. JSW Paints struck a chord when it talked about something so commonplace in our country. The ad depicts how often public property is abused and neglected. A thought-provoking message delivered ever so subtly, it is etched in your mind for a while. You cannot help but agree that “Jab soch sundar hogi, tabhi toh desh sundar hoga”.
Godrej Sounds of Making India Campaign
Godrej | Sounds of Making India
Godrej Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, operating in sectors including consumer products, furniture, industrial engineering, and real estate. The ad film narrates Godrej Group’s journey along with India’s progress. The # SoundsOfMakingIndiastruck encapsulates the industrial sounds from different businesses that are crucial to India’s economic progress. The ad integrates these sounds with its products, depicting them as the heartbeat of the nation.
Edelweiss Mutual Fund The Wall of Independence Campaign
Edelweiss Mutual Fund is an asset management platform founded in 2007. A subset of the Edelweiss Group, the company has gained a reputation since it acquired JP Morgan India Asset Management and introduced MSCI in the Indian market. #TheWallofIndependence, a campaign launched on the occasion of celebrating 75 years of Independence, talks about India’s journey of what freedom looks like today. It talks about the freedom of choosing to dream and, better yet pursuing the dream. It reminds us of the empowerment achieved and the ability of a nation to dream.
CashKaro Bachat ki Azaadi Campaign
Bachat Ki Azaadi | Independence Day Brand Film
CashKaro, founded by Rohan and Swati Bhargava, is a cashback system in India, particularly known for its cashback rewards and coupons. CashKaro caught a nerve with this Independence Day ad “#Bachatkiazadi”. The ad tugs at the pain of daily wage earners, often taken for granted by Indian consumers. If there’s anything inherent to Indian businesses, it is the art of bargaining. We pride ourselves on saving Rs 10 and getting free “dhaniya” from the vegetable vendor. However, we dare not do so at a shopping mall. Why? The ad urges us to let go of unnecessary bargaining, especially with people who earn a living from selling small items.
Kalyan Jewellers Stories of Courage Campaign
Independence Day Campaigns – Kalyan Jewelers
Kalyan Jewellers has launched a refreshing Independence Day campaign to honor the bravery and dedication of Indian soldiers.
The heartwarming video shows how our soldiers always put the country first. It also highlights how they are challenging old beliefs and breaking gender stereotypes.
The film sends a strong message of pride, equality, and respect. It reminds us to celebrate the real heroes who protect our freedom every day.
Ajio
Independence Day Campaigns – Ajio
Ajio’s #FashionBeyondLabels campaign sends a powerful message about being yourself through fashion.
The ad shows how people are often judged for the way they dress, and how society tries to put labels on their style. But Ajio believes fashion is all about freedom—wearing what you love and expressing who you truly are.
It encourages everyone to break the rules, be confident, and celebrate their unique style without fear.
Conclusion
These Independence Day campaigns are not just advertisement campaigns but are tributes to the free India we live in and the Indianism we can sport! This article covered several impactful Independence Day creative ads by brands that honored the spirit of freedom and celebrated real-life heroes. Happy Independence Day 2025!
FAQs
What are some of the best Independence Day Campaigns?
Parle-G Armed Forces Campaign, Tata Tea Premium Kulhad Campaign, Bajaj Avenger Independence Ride Campaign, ITC Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, JSW Paints Think Beautiful Campaign, Godrej Sounds of Making India Campaign, and Edelweiss Mutual Fund The Wall of Independence Campaign are some of the best Independence Day Campaigns.
How many years of independence will India celebrate on the Indian Independence Day 2025?
On Indian Independence Day 2025, India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day. However, the country will complete 78 years of its independence.
What are Independence Day campaign ideas?
Celebrate Independence Day with creative campaigns like #MyFreedomStory, where people share what freedom means to them. Host a Tiranga Theme Day, run a fun Freedom Quiz, or highlight local heroes making a difference. Boost engagement with a flag-themed filter, promote Made in India products, or create a digital parade using reels.
In order to earn INR 1,200 crore through an initial public offering (IPO), Hero Motors has resubmitted its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the market regulator.
For both electric and non-electric powertrains, Hero Motors offers a broad range of solutions, including system-level powertrain design, prototype, validation, development, and delivery.
It has a major first-mover advantage in this industry since it was one of the first Indian companies to take advantage of the worldwide e-bike powertrain market opportunity. The company operated six production facilities in Thailand, the United Kingdom, and India as of December 31, 2024.
These facilities were positioned strategically to ensure cost-effectiveness and closeness to consumers.
Recent Financial Outlook of Hero Motors
Hero Motors earned INR 807.26 crore in the nine months before December 31, 2024, and its operational revenue increased from INR 914.19 crore in fiscal 2022 to INR 1,064.39 crore in fiscal 2024.
Furthermore, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.08%, gross profit increased from INR 281.38 crore in fiscal 2022 to INR 419.37 crore in fiscal 2024, reaching INR 330.47 crore in the nine months that concluded on December 31, 2024.
The profit after tax for the nine months ending December 31, 2024, was INR 22.39 crore, up from INR 17.04 crore in the fiscal year 2024.
Planning for the IPO
With a face value of INR 10, the initial public offering (IPO) consists of an offer for sale (OFS) by the promoters of up to INR 400 crore and a new issue of stocks worth up to INR 800 crore.
O P Munjal Holdings shares valued at INR 390 crore and Bhagyoday Investments and Hero Cycles shares valued at INR 5 crore each are included in the OFS. The following is how the money received from the new share offering will be distributed: INR 285 crore will be used to pay back, prepay, or fully or partially redeem some of the company’s outstanding debts.
Further, INR 237 crore will be used to finance potential acquisitions and other strategic projects. Lastly, INR 285 crore will be used for capital expenditures associated with buying equipment required to increase the capacity of the company’s facility in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
The issue’s book-running lead managers are ICICI Securities Limited, DAM Capital Advisors Limited, and JM Financial Limited; the offer’s registrar is KFin Technologies Limited.
In 2022, Hero Motors purchased a strategic interest in the British company Hewland from Hero International B.V., which had been connected to Hewland since 2017.
In 2021, it formed a joint venture with Yamaha Motors Japan to produce electric motors under the “HYM” brand, and operations started in 2022. It also entered the micro-mobility electric drive unit (“EDU”) market in 2023 under the “ESYNC” brand.
Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, is making a major move into the electric vehicle (EV) space. The company has announced an investment of INR 525 crore (over $60 million) in Euler Motors, an electric three-wheeler startup. With this investment, Hero will acquire a 32.5% stake in Euler Motors. This marks Hero’s entry into the fast-growing electric three-wheeler market.
Hero MotoCorp’s Investment in Euler Motors
Hero MotoCorp will invest in phases, with the transaction expected to be completed by April 2025. The deal includes a mix of new investment into Euler Motors and share purchases from existing investors. This is Hero MotoCorp’s second major move in the EV space, following a 40% stake in Ather Energy earlier this year.
This investment allows Hero MotoCorp to expand beyond two-wheelers and enter the commercial EV space. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, stated that the move aligns with the company’s vision for sustainable mobility and exploring new business opportunities.
Euler Motors and Its Market Position
Founded in 2018, Euler Motors focuses on electric three-wheelers for cargo transport. The company’s flagship model, HiLoad EV, is one of the most powerful in its segment. It offers a range of 170 km on a single charge. Euler Motors operates in over 30 cities across India and recently expanded into the electric four-wheeler space.
The company has seen rapid growth. For the fiscal year ending in March 2024, Euler Motors’ operating revenue increased 3X to INR 189 crore in FY24 from INR 62 crore in the previous fiscal year. This growth reflects the rising demand for electric commercial vehicles.
Euler Motors faces competition from established players such as Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, YC Electric Vehicles, and Saera Electric Auto. However, with Hero MotoCorp’s backing, it could strengthen its market presence and scale operations further.
Why This Move Matters for Hero MotoCorp
The Indian electric three-wheeler market is expanding fast. Industry reports suggest that EVs could soon account for 35% of total sales in this category. Rising fuel costs and government incentives are driving adoption among businesses and fleet operators.
By investing in Euler Motors, Hero MotoCorp secures a strategic foothold in this growing market. The move helps the company diversify beyond two-wheelers and tap into a high-potential segment.
As India pushes for cleaner mobility solutions, Hero MotoCorp is positioning itself as a leader in the country’s EV transformation. This investment signals the company’s commitment to new-age mobility solutions and strengthens its presence in the evolving EV ecosystem.
Hero MotoCorp, an Indian company, is planning to make its debut in developed markets by introducing electric scooters operating under the Vida brand. As per the company’s plan, it will launch its brand in the UK, France, and Spain by middle of 2025. Hero is making its first foray into the markets of the UK and Europe with the intention of capitalizing on the rising demand for electric vehicles in these regions.
The action, which coincides with ongoing discussions between India and the United Kingdom regarding a free trade agreement, has the potential to reduce tariffs in the automobile industry, thereby giving additional prospects for growth.
Niranjan Gupta, the chief executive officer of Hero, was quoted by a media outlet as saying that the strong customer mood in these regions towards their electric scooters was underlined. In order to successfully manage the transition towards electric transportation, the corporation, which is already a key participant in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, intends to capitalize on this kind of enthusiasm.
However, analysts feel that in order for Hero to achieve success in these developed regions, it will be necessary for the company to provide products that are more expensive and premium. This is a market sector in which Hero has not yet established a solid presence.
An Alliance Between Hero and Harley-Davidson
Due to Hero’s existing collaboration with Harley-Davidson, the company is able to manufacture motorcycles for the Indian market that are associated with the legendary brand. As the existing relationship between the two companies is only confined to India, Gupta pointed out that the expansion of Harley-Davidson’s shipments to the United Kingdom would be contingent on future agreements with the Milwaukee-based company.
The expansion of the company into Europe comes at a time when India’s vehicle emission rules, which were upgraded in 2020, are now in compliance with worldwide laws, which opens up new opportunities for Indian manufacturers. The imposition of higher tariffs on Chinese imports has opened up new opportunities for Indian manufacturers such as Hero to sell their products in developed countries. However, Hero will have the issue of successfully presenting its luxury motorcycles alongside its electric scooters in areas that are accustomed to higher-end models. This will be a challenge for Hero because it will be difficult to navigate the competitive landscape.
Hero Motocorp’s Sales Report Card of August 2024
For the month of August 2024, Hero MotoCorp announced sales of 512,360 units, which is a month-on-month increase of 38 percent. Year-to-date sales for the automobile manufacturer have increased by 8% when compared to the same period in the previous year. During the month of August 2024, other automotive manufacturers, on the other hand, had a decreasing trend.
The total number of vehicles sold by Tata Motors was 71,693 less than the 78,010 units that were sold in August 2023. This is an 8.1% decrease in overall sales. In a similar vein, Maruti Suzuki, another significant player in the automobile industry in India, saw a decrease in overall sales of 4% compared to the previous year.
Shalini Rath
