MAM
L’oréal India elevates four management leaders to regional roles
Mumbai: L’Oréal India announced Monday the elevation of four leaders from the India management team to regional leadership roles spanning South Asia, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) zone.
Director – consumer & market insights and media Kavita Angre will now head consumer & market insights for SAPMENA, Aalok Oke’s role has been expanded from director of India operations to deputy director – operations, SAPMENA region, Yogesh Suradkar will head Research & Innovation for SAPMENA and Rajesh Gopal will take on the role of chief information officer (CIO) for Middle East & North Africa, in addition to his responsibilities as CIO India.
Commenting on the developments, L’Oréal India managing director Amit Jain said, “I am delighted to see Kavita, Aalok, Yogesh and Rajesh selected to lead critical roles central to Loreal’s global growth strategy. It is testimony to India’s unique position as a talent hub for L’Oréal globally. The experience of these leaders having worked in a diverse and complex market like India, is an important asset and will help shape L’Oréal’s beauty leadership and transformative growth across the SAPMENA zone.”
Aalok Oke started his career at L’Oréal in 1999 working on all aspects of operations across India, Europe and Japan. Recognized for his entrepreneurial mindset, delivery on results and building high performing teams, he grew to become the director of operations India, a position he held for over four years. Oke has a deep understanding of operations and product development and his expertise will be key for leading emerging markets in his new role as deputy director – operations, SAPMENA region.
Kavita Angre joined L’Oréal India in 2013 as the consumer & market insights (CMI) director. Having worked across markets including India, UK and Singapore, and different product categories, she brings a strong understanding of the beauty consumer, backed by critical analytical skills. In 2018, she took additional charge of the Media function in India. In her new role, Angre will lead the CMI function for the SAPMENA Zone and help L’Oréal build a stronger understanding of beauty consumers and share actionable insights for driving growth. She will also be responsible for M&A opportunities in the region.
Yogesh Suradkar joined L’Oréal in India in 2016 as a general manager, cosmetics metiers and was promoted to director of research & innovation in India in 2019. He brings with him over 15 years of experience in beauty & grooming across categories and the academic world where he worked as an assistant professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. In this role, Yogesh will be responsible for creating holistic beauty experiences through disruptive and sustainable innovations to transform the lives of three billion consumers in the SAPMENA zone.
Rajesh Gopal is currently CIO of L’Oréal India and a part of the India Digital Council, where he has been instrumental in creating the digital roadmap to further the company’s business ambition. Since joining the company in 2019, Rajesh has been the architect of aligning IT to the business strategy, working closely with the India business and the zonal teams.
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.
