1976/BT/ME Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., India
Shri Vikram Sitaram Kasbekar is one of India’s most distinguished automotive industry leaders, whose career of nearly five decades represents an extraordinary journey from the workshop floors of Indian manufacturing to the board of the world’s largest two-wheeler company. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras with a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from the Class of 1976, he has played a pivotal role in shaping modern automotive manufacturing in India and globally.
Shri Vikram began his professional journey at TELCO (now Tata Motors Limited) in Pune in 1976 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee, spending over two decades progressing through roles spanning operations, supply chain, and project engineering. This foundational experience gave him a comprehensive understanding of automotive manufacturing that few could match. He subsequently held leadership positions at Rane Madras, bringing about transformation on the shop floor enhancing supply chain and vendor quality systems, and at TVS Motor Company, where he drove significant process reengineering and reductions in setup change times. He later served as Executive President and Business Head at Hindalco Industries – Birla Copper division, where he revitalised copper smelting operations and restored profitability.
Shri Vikram joined Hero MotoCorp Limited in 2001 as Plant Head of its Gurgaon facility, and over the following two decades rose steadily through the ranks in a manner that speaks to both his technical mastery and his leadership qualities. As Head of Operations and Supply Chain, he directed manufacturing quality, drove global expansion, and championed green initiatives. As Chief Operating Officer and subsequently as Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer, he led research and development, sustainability strategy, and innovation across the company’s global operations. In 2025, he was elevated to the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer, taking charge of the company at a critical juncture in its history.
Among his many landmark contributions, Shri Vikram established state-of-the-art green factories at Haridwar, Neemrana, Halol, Jaipur, and Tirupati, as well as overseas manufacturing plants in Colombia and Bangladesh. He led Hero MotoCorp’s successful and timely transition from BS4 to BS6 emission norms in 2020, a critical national compliance milestone. He also spearheaded the creation of the company’s Electric Vehicle and Emerging Mobility Business Unit, which has since grown into an independent entity developing the VIDA electric scooter range and EV charging infrastructure, positioning Hero MotoCorp for the future of mobility. His pioneering achievements were recognised when he became the first employee in the company’s history to be elevated to its Board of Directors in 2016.
Shri Vikram’s contributions to manufacturing and sustainability have earned him wide recognition, including being featured in Time magazine for Hero MotoCorp’s operational excellence, being named Manufacturing Innovator of the Year, and receiving the TPM Special and Excellence Award for manufacturing quality. Among his recent honours is the Padma Shri R. N. Zutshi Medal, conferred by Daly College, Indore a prestigious distinction awarded annually to an alumnus who has attained exceptional achievement in his or her chosen field.
He is Chairman of the CII GreenCo Council (Delhi Chapter), as a member of the national Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry, as former Chairman of the CII Manufacturing Council (Northern Region), and as an Executive Committee Member of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, reflecting the high regard in which he is held across India’s industrial community.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the automotive industry, his leadership in advancing sustainable manufacturing and electric mobility, and his distinguished professional achievements, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its alumni are proud to confer Shri Vikram Sitaram Kasbekar with the Distinguished Alumni Award for the year 2026.
