MAM
In 2020, the role of Chief Consumer Officer may emerge
MUMBAI: Like everything else today, marketing too has acquired a digital focus.
Not surprisingly, companies now need specialised professionals to handle the various aspects of online marketing. Indeed, Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and in turn, HR heads of companies are increasingly facing this challenge.
Mahindra & Mahindra HR- vice president, auto & farm sector Namrata Gill is of the opinion that today, company CEOs are digital-educated. Gone are the days when top management needed to be informed about the power of digital to justify marketing investments. While the western world is busy decoding the power of big data, many Indian marketers are yet to bring on board people with the right skill sets. The hurdle they face is mainly that Indian brands still have a long way to go to get the data right.
Much is discussed about roping in the right talent but what needs to be taken into consideration is the integration of talent. According to Gill, the best person may not be able to work along with the marketing team and that is where the change needs to begin. CMOs want to look beyond functional teams and HR heads agree to this need.
According to HDFC Life senior executive vice president- marketing, product, digital and e commerce Sanjay Tripathy, the need of the hour is to start hunting for people with a technology base along with good operational skills and content and data expertise. Tripathy thinks that a marketing team will be perfect with such talent.
Many experts believe there is a discipline of data existing in many western markets and Indian professionals need to upscale themselves in the long run. The year 2020 is predicted to be the time when the nature of world business and technology would change for the best. For marketing too, the year 2020 is predicted to be the time when communication would take a leap.
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India chief marketing officer, Deepali Naair believes that by 2020, when roles get integrated, there will emerge a new role of “Chief Consumer Officer.” It will be interesting to see when talent across different domains comes together to take marketing to the next level.
Will CEOs invest in bringing such roles into existence? Well, only time will tell!
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
