Brands
Hero marks 25 years of global market dominance with stellar sales growth
NEW DELHI: The Delhi-based titan dispatched 557,871 units in January, a 26 per cent leap over the previous year, proving there is plenty of life in the old dog. While the bread-and-butter motorcycle portfolio, led by the Xtreme and Glamour X, remains the firm’s backbone, it was the scooter segment that provided the real nitro boost. Demand for the Xoom and Destini models helped the category grow by a staggering 45.5 per cent year-on-year.
The company’s electric venture, Vida, is also finding its feet. Retail volumes for the brand rose 21 per cent month-on-month, with 13,000 registrations in January. This growth was bolstered by the Vida VX2 and a trophy cabinet that now includes a CES 2026 innovation award for the Dirt.e K3’s adaptive design. Beyond the subcontinent, global business grew by 24 per cent, as international buyers warmed to Hero’s more premium offerings, totaling 37,663 export units for the month.
Hero’s month was not merely about the balance sheet. The Hero MotoSports Team Rally secured a double top-ten finish at the 48th Dakar Rally, a historic milestone for the firm. Meanwhile, the company burnished its corporate credentials, being named an ESG leader by NSE Sustainability Ratings & Analytics Limited.
With domestic sales hitting 520,208 units and year-to-date volumes crossing the 5.3 million mark, Hero appears to be navigating the shift from petrol-head pioneer to sustainable heavyweight with practiced ease.
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.
