Maruti Suzuki loses its Marketing Chief

Mayank Pareek, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sales and Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India, is said to have put down his papers after serving the company for more than two decades. Reports suggest that Pareek has quit the organisation to pursue ‘better opportunities’. The Marketing Chief’s departure comes at a crucial time when the company is gearing up to launch its premium sedan, the Maruti Ciaz, which is set to replace the Indian auto major’s Maruti SX4 car.

The Ciaz, which is credited to be the brainchild of Pareek, holds the key to change the company’s fortunes in the bigger car segment where Maruti is struggling to make its presence being felt. Powered by a 1.3-litre diesel engine and a 1.4-litre petrol engine the Ciaz will lock horns with the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento once launched.

The Indian auto major holds a strong foot-hold in the entry-level small car segment. But, back in 2007, the company eyed the mid-sedan market with the launch of its sedan, the Maruti SX4. The car did enjoy a fair share of success in the initial years of its launch, but soon lost its charm in the eyes of the Indian car buyers who opted for cars such as the Honda City and Hyundai Verna, which wooed them with its up market exterior styling, power and features when compared with the Maruti Suzuki SX4.

Speculations about Pareek’s resignation were rife right from the time of the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. Maruti, however, chose to deny these as rumours then. Reports suggest that Pareek will remain part of the automotive industry, and may join homegrown automaker Tata Motors. The marketing chief has been credited with successfully continuing the rural drive of the company initiated by former Managing Director, Jagdish Khattar. He has also been successful in increasing the Indian auto major’s market share in the country, when the Indian automobile market witnessed a major slump in the past two years.