Maruti Suzuki appoints first Indian employee Sunil Kakkar to company board

India’s leading automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) announced the appointment of Sunil Kakkar as an Additional Director and Whole-time Director, with the designation of Director (Corporate Planning). His three-year tenure will commence on April 1, 2025, and continue until March 31, 2028. The company informed via an exchange filing on Thursday following the approval from its Board of Directors.

This is the first time an Indian home-grown employee has been appointed as a director on Maruti Suzuki India Limited Board (MSIL) by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC)

With this appointment, the Board will achieve equal representation, comprising six directors each from Japanese and Indian nationalities.

Kakkar’s appointment highlights India’s growing influence within Suzuki’s decision-making framework, ensuring stronger representation of the Indian market. Notably, India remains the largest market for Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC).

Maruti Suzuki maintains its leadership in India’s passenger vehicle segment with a market share of almost 40%. However, the company faces increasing pressure to navigate evolving consumer preferences, stricter emission regulations, and the accelerating shift toward electric mobility.