Stellantis, the automotive brand, has declared the appointment of Shailesh Hazela as its new CEO and Managing Director. Hazela will assume the role previously held by Aditya Jairaj, who will be relocating to the United States. The transition of responsibilities between Hazela and Jairaj will occur through mid-July.
Formerly the Vice President of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain for India & Asia Pacific region at Stellantis, Hazela brings with him extensive experience and a proven track record in driving growth and innovation. Since joining Stellantis in September 2022, Hazela has been dedicated to optimizing the supply base across India, ASEAN, Korea, Japan, and other regions, as well as nurturing the supply chain for Stellantis in the IAP region.
With over 28 years of experience spanning diverse sectors including automotive, telecommunications, and railways, Hazela holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering.
Ashwani Muppasani, COO of Stellantis India & Asia Pacific, expressed, “We warmly welcome Shailesh Hazela as our new CEO and MD, and extend our gratitude to Aditya for his leadership and contributions to Stellantis India. Shailesh’s strategic acumen and extensive experience will play a pivotal role in driving growth and innovation in the Indian market. We have full confidence that Shailesh will lead the company towards sustainable business growth.”
Hazela shared his thoughts on the appointment, stating, “I am deeply honored to lead Stellantis in India. Our iconic brands have set benchmarks in the global automobile industry, and I am committed to maintaining and advancing this legacy. I extend my sincere appreciation to Aditya Jairaj for his contributions, and I pledge to foster sustainable progress alongside our exceptional teams and partners. I eagerly anticipate accelerating technological innovation and bolstering our position in both existing and emerging mobility segments.”
Stellantis currently operates three manufacturing plants (Ranjangaon, Hosur, Thiruvallur), an ICT Hub (Hyderabad) & Software Centre (Bengaluru), and two R&D centers in Chennai and Pune. The company’s “Make in India” initiative remains ongoing, with India serving as the sole country outside North America to locally produce four Jeep nameplates (Wrangler, Compass, Meridian, and Grand Cherokee) and the Citroën C5 Aircross outside France.
