Sumit Sawhney will be the new CEO and
Managing Director for Renault Group operations in India. Sawhney takes over
from Marc Nassif, who moves to a global assignment within the group.
Renault SAS, France today announced the
appointment, which will come into effect from February 1, 2014. Sumit will be
responsible for managing the entire operations for Renault in India and will
report to Gilles Normand- Chairman, Asia Pacific Region for Renault.
Sawhney joined Renault in India as Executive
Director in September 2012 from General Motors. Sawhney has experience of 20
years in the Indian automotive industry and during his tenure in augmenting
sales, marketing, after-sales business and network development for the company.
He was also part of a major transition at the US car company, which saw sales
surge in India. Sawhney has been instrumental in establishing the Renault brand
in India and setting the company on a growth trajectory. In his tenure, Renault
Duster has become one of the top selling SUV in the country.
About Renault
In 2005, Renault established a 51:49 joint
venture with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited to form Mahindra Renault Limited.
In May 2007, the joint-venture launched the Renault Logan, produced at a manufacturing plant in Nashik, Maharashtra. Initially, the Logan met with
considerable success but sales slipped with competition against newer models
from Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Toyota. The Logan was criticised for its
boxy looks and awkward ergonomics. Although built as a Right Hand drive vehicle
for the Indian market, the Logan's ergonomics were configured for a Left Hand
drive vehicle. In February 2010, Mahindra and Renault announced the dissolution
of their joint-venture, with Mahindra buying out Renault's shares. Renault
agreed to provide support to M&M through a license agreement as well as to
supply key components and the Renault Logan became the Mahindra Verito.
Following its exit from the joint-venture, Renault entered the Indian market on
its own.