Maruti Suzuki MD Kenichi Ayukawa has been awarded ‘Best CEO – Multinational Company’ at Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA) 2016 in Mumbai. Mr Ayukawa was selected for taking Maruti Suzuki towards the “next phase of sustainable growth” while making deep-rooted changes in the organization.
The jury chaired by Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Ltd recognized his achievements as a CEO that included adaptability to change, strategic approach, vision for India and innovative thinking. Other Jury members were Sanjay Nayar, CEO, KKR India; Noshir Kaka, Managing Director, McKinsey India; Zia Mody, Managing Partner, AZB & Partners; Roopa Kudva, Managing Director, Omidyar Network and Manish Sabharwal, Chairman & Co-Founder, TeamLease Services.
Mr Ayukama has earlier served in the US, Pakistan and Japan and has been serving as MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki in 2013. Under his leadership, the company has launched several successful models like Brezza, Baleno, Ciaz, Celerio and S-Cross. The Indo-Japanese carmaker also introduced its new retail chain NEXA to redefine the car buying experience.
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In a bid to promote newer and affordable technologies, the company introduced the popular Auto Gear Shift aka Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) and its mild hybrid technology SHVS under the leadership of Mr Ayukama. While the Celerio was the first Indian car to get the AMT, the Ciaz was the first mass-segment car to get mild hybrid technology and thus became the first vehicle to get benefits under the Govt’s FAME technologies. All the aforementioned initiatives helped the company to increase its market share to 47% in the passenger vehicle market as against 38 percent five years ago.
The company also doubled spending on social initiatives. The company have spent in the areas of rural health and sanitation, building sewer systems, household toilets and waste management processes. It is working to improve retention and learning levels in schools, including improvement in infrastructure. Its efforts in skill development and driver training efforts benefit several thousand youths through enhanced employability, besides making roads safe.
