Royal Enfield Appoints Vinod K Dasari As New CEO

Royal Enfield has appointed Vinod K Dasari as the new CEO of the company. Dasari will take over the role from Siddhartha Lal with immediate effect. However, Siddhartha Lal will continue to be a part of Royal Enfield as the Managing Director of its parent company, Eicher Motors. Lal will continue to support Dasari and the team on product and brand related areas.

Before joining Royal Enfield, Vinod K Dasari was the CEO and MD of Ashok Leyland. Dasari was also the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) from 2015 to 2017. He has also served as the president of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), from 2013 to 2015.

Ever since Siddhartha Lal took over as the CEO of Royal Enfield in 2006, the company has seen tremendous growth. It recently launched two new motorcycles, the Bullet Trials 350 and Bullet Trials 500. Both the motorcycles are based on their Classic counterparts. We have already ridden the Bullet Trials 500 and here’s what we think of it.

Here’s the official press release from Royal Enfield for more details:

Vinod K Dasari joins Royal Enfield as the Chief Executive Officer

New Delhi, April 1, 2019: In order to propel Royal Enfield as a global motorcycling brand, Eicher Motors Ltd (EML) today announced the appointment of Vinod K. Dasari as the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Enfield, a unit of EML. Vinod will also join the Board of Eicher Motors Ltd as an Executive Director with immediate effect.

Vinod Dasari takes over from Siddhartha Lal who will continue as the Managing Director of Eicher Motors Ltd. At Royal Enfield, Siddhartha will continue to support Vinod and the team on product and brand related areas.

Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director, Eicher Motors Ltd. said, “After a phenomenal success story in the last decade, Royal Enfield is now building the foundations of its next level of growth. As we commence another exciting chapter, I believe, there is no better person than Vinod Dasari to lead Royal Enfield into its next phase of evolution to a global brand. Vinod is a proven leader who combines business vision and people skills. He has been a catalyst in reviving the fortunes of his previous company and re-shaping the dynamics of a hitherto slow moving industry.”

“Vinod’s fearless entrepreneurial leadership, experience of managing complex businesses globally, deep understanding of customers and his vision of how digital technology will be used and experienced around the world are precisely the qualities that Royal Enfield needs as it aspires to lead and catalyse the global motorcycling industry towards middle weights (250-750cc)”, Siddhartha added.

Prior to joining Royal Enfield, Vinod Dasari was the CEO & Managing Director of Ashok Leyland, a position he held since 2011. He joined Ashok Leyland as the Chief Operating Officer in 2005. Vinod Dasari has held several leadership positions at Cummins India Limited and Timken Company where he went on to become the President of its Global Railroad business in the USA. He started his career with General Electric in 1986.

Speaking about his new role, Mr Vinod Dasari, CEO, Royal Enfield said, “Royal Enfield is an inspiring story and I am very excited to be part of such a fantastic brand. Personally for me, working with a consumer brand will be a tremendous learning opportunity, and professionally, I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a global consumer brand from India.”

Mr. Vinod Dasari has also served as the President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) from 2015 to 2017 and as President of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), from 2013 to 2015. He was conferred “CEO of the Year” by Business Today and most recently by Business Standard. He has also been honoured as the “CV Man of the Year” by the CV Magazine and has won the “Autocar Professional of the Year”.

Mr. Vinod Dasari holds a Masters degree in Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), from the Kellogg School of Management. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from University of Louisville in 1988.