MAM
Harley Davidson exits India
Harley-Davidson will shut down manufacturing and sales operations in India as part of its restructuring exercise under ‘The Rewire’ programme, the US-based motorcycle maker announced on Thursday.
Earlier, in August, the bike maker had indicated to restructure business in some its loss making international markets to reroute focus on the US market. The move is going to increase the restructuring costs to 169 million dollars.
Covid2019 is the key reason behind this decision as the brand was witnessing poor sales and weaker demand. Media reports say that Harley-Davidson India sold less than 2,500 units in the last financial year, making it one of its worst-performing international markets. SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) figures mention that Harley-Davidson sold only 103 units of motorcycles in India in July 2020 and 176 units last month in the country. Indian market contributed to only 5 per cent of the brands overall sales.
The bike maker will be laying off employees from its assembly unit in Haryana.
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Harley-Davidson joins the growing list of automotive brands, such as General Motors, Fiat, UM Motorcycles and others which have exited India in the past.
MAM
WPP appoints Mark Taylor as chief people officer in leadership reshuffle
Marie-Claire Barker moves to culture role as Cindy Rose builds new team
MUMBAI: WPP has appointed Mark Taylor as its new chief people officer, bringing in a seasoned HR leader as part of a broader leadership reshuffle under chief executive Cindy Rose, according to media reports.
Taylor succeeds Marie-Claire Barker, who will transition into a specialised role focused on performance and culture, reporting to him. The move is seen as part of WPP’s effort to sharpen its organisational structure and align talent strategy with its transformation agenda.
With more than three decades of experience, Taylor brings a diverse track record across industries including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, retail and digital entertainment. He most recently served as chief people advisor at The LEGO Group, where he worked closely with top leadership on board and executive appointments, governance and organisational strategy.
Prior to that, he held senior HR leadership roles at Burberry and King, where he played a key role in organisational transformation and integration efforts, including the company’s alignment with Activision Blizzard. Earlier in his career, Taylor also worked with Kimberly-Clark and GlaxoSmithKline.
His cross-sector experience is expected to support WPP’s three-year ‘Elevate 28’ turnaround plan, which focuses on simplifying operations, strengthening capabilities and driving sustainable growth.
The appointment marks the second major leadership hire under Rose in a week. Recently, WPP named Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer, bringing in additional firepower to execute its strategic overhaul. Choueiri previously held a senior transformation role at Estée Lauder Companies.
The leadership changes signal a clear push by WPP to blend experience with transformation as it navigates a rapidly evolving advertising landscape. With Taylor now steering the people agenda, the company appears focused on ensuring its talent strategy keeps pace with its broader ambitions.
