Brands
Siddhanta Srivastava joins Renault India as product marketing manager
Gurugram: Renault India has roped in Siddhanta Srivastava as product marketing manager, tasking him with one of its most high-stakes assignments yet—the comeback of the Duster, a name that once redefined the midsize SUV segment in India.
Srivastava joins Renault after a three-and-a-half-year stint at Kia India, where he handled product planning, operations and strategy for models including the Sonet, EV6 and EV9. His role spanned sales analysis, market intelligence and pricing strategy, ensuring competitiveness across four-wheeler segments in an increasingly crowded market.
At Kia, Srivastava was also deeply involved in electric vehicle strategy, working cross-functionally with R&D, design and finance teams to build viable EV business cases. He led cost simulations to unlock CAFE benefits and central and state government incentives, aligning product development with regulatory and commercial realities.
Earlier, at Honda Cars India, Srivastava worked in advanced product planning, representing the company on regulatory and standards panels such as BIS, AISC, SIAM and ICAT—giving him a ringside view of how policy, compliance and product strategy intersect.
His grounding in regulations was sharpened further at the International Centre for Automotive Technology, where he worked on homologation and regulatory frameworks as a senior engineer. Before that, he cut his teeth in engineering and installation roles, including a stint at TK Elevator, and led a Department of Science and Technology project that resulted in a patent for wireless power transmission.
At Renault India, Srivastava steps straight into launch mode. The new Duster is positioned as a cornerstone of the brand’s revival strategy, aimed at reclaiming relevance in a segment now dominated by aggressive new-age SUVs.
For Srivastava, the move marks both continuity and escalation—a return to hands-on product storytelling, backed by deep regulatory, technical and market insight.
For Renault, it is a calculated bet on execution.
As the Duster prepares to re-enter the spotlight, the message is clear: the icon is back—and this time, the groundwork runs deep.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
