Brands
Hero MotoCorp revs up EV ambitions with new chief
NEW DELHI: Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has announced a significant leadership reshuffle, bringing in new talent to accelerate its push into sustainable, future-ready mobility. On 10 July 2025, the company appointed Kausalya Nandakumar as chief business officer for its emerging mobility business unit. She will report directly to Pawan Munjal, the executive chairman, and will be tasked with shaping the strategic direction and growth of Vida, Hero MotoCorp’s electric vehicle brand.
Nandakumar brings nearly two decades of leadership acumen from the automotive, electric mobility, and digital innovation sectors. Her appointment underscores Hero MotoCorp’s commitment to pioneering new technologies and growth platforms. She joins Hero MotoCorp after an illustrious 18-year tenure with the Mahindra Group, where she played a pivotal role in building and scaling new ventures.
Most recently, as chief operating officer of Mahindra Electric Automobile, she spearheaded the operational readiness and market entry strategy for the company’s electric SUV business, valued at $9.8 billion. Her extensive career also includes heading business transformation for Mahindra’s farm division and leading Glyd, Mahindra’s electric shared mobility business. Notably, she conceived and built SmartShift, one of India’s pioneering digital logistics platforms, transforming it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
This strategic appointment coincides with the departure of Swadesh Srivastava, who is stepping down due to health reasons. Srivastava will work closely with Nandakumar in the coming weeks to ensure a seamless handover. The company expressed its gratitude for his contributions and extended best wishes.
Nandakumar’s academic credentials include a master’s in business administration (marketing) from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, and a bachelor’s degree in electronics & instrumentation engineering from Mumbai University.
She has further refined her leadership skills through programmes at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School.. Her background and expertise are set to reinforce Hero MotoCorp’s ambition to lead the next era of mobility, delivering innovation with impact and driving sustainable growth.
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Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
