MAM
Susanne Pulverer becomes Ikea India’s first woman CEO & CSO
Mumbai: Ingka Group-owned home furnishings retailer Ikea on Thursday announced the appointment of Susanne Pulverer as its first woman chief executive officer and chief sustainability officer for India. Pulverer, an experienced Ikea leader takes over from the outgoing India CEO Peter Betzel, who will move on to his next assignment within the Ikea Group.
Prior to her role as Ikea India CEO and CSO, Pulverer held the position of group business risk and compliance manager at the Ingka group. This is her third stint in India.
Pulverer joined Ikea in 1997 and has worked across different roles within the Swedish company. She started her Ikea journey as environmental manager for the Ikea Group and moved on to Ikea Sweden, where she held various roles in different business categories. She then moved to India in 2007 to head the purchasing function for Ikea South Asia during which she developed a strong connection and passion for India and its people.
Before joining Ikea India once again in 2017, she was the managing director at Ikea Communications, the in-house agency of Ikea, for five years during which she led the organisation through a major transformation to drive better business and people results. Pulverer, in her last role in India led market development for Delhi NCR, where she also drove the sustainability agenda and local community initiatives crucial to Ikea’s vision and mission to become a climate-positive business by 2030.
“I am excited to be back in India, as we are moving closer towards our vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people. India is a prioritised market for Ingka Group,” stated Susanne Pulvere. “Peter and the team have done a truly commendable job of introducing Ikea in India as a purpose-led brand, expanding the omnichannel presence across cities, strengthening local sourcing and retail competence, and so much more.”
During his tenure in India, Peter led the Ikea India team through the journey of transformation and with his deep passion for people and business, steered Ikea in India during extraordinary times posed due to the pandemic.
“It has been an incredible experience being a part of the Ikea India journey. I am extremely happy to leave the baton in the capable hands of Susanne,” said Peter Betzel. “Her determined and strong leadership is a great inspiration for many of us. I am confident that she will lead our strong value-based India team to make the Ikea vision a reality for many people.”
MAM
Continental Tires appoints Nevin Aslan-Özkan as Managing Director for India
Finance leader to drive growth in passenger vehicle segment from 6 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Continental Tires has put a fresh pair of tyres on its Indian leadership and this time, they’re rolling with strong financial horsepower. The premium tyre manufacturer has announced the appointment of Nevin Aslan-Özkan as managing director of Continental Tires India, effective 6 April 2026. She succeeds Samir Gupta, who stepped down on 5 April 2026 for personal reasons.
Nevin joined Continental in 2017 and has held key leadership roles in Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategy & Business Development across EMEA and APAC. Since May 2025, she has served as Chief Financial Officer for Continental Tires India, shaping the company’s financial strategy and performance.
In her new role, she will lead the company’s growth agenda in India, with a sharp focus on accelerating its presence in the passenger vehicle segment. This appointment comes at a pivotal time, following the recent launch of the CrossContact A/T² tyre, the first market globally to receive this product and a €10.5 million (approximately Rs 100 crore) investment to strengthen Continental’s position, particularly in the ultra-high-performance (UUHP) segment.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan said, “India continues to be a strong focus market for Continental Tires. Guided by our ‘In the Market, For the Market’ approach, we will continue to deliver products and technologies designed for Indian roads.”
Samir Gupta, who joined Continental in 2012 and served as managing director since January 2022, was recognised for his significant contribution to expanding the brand’s footprint in India.
Continental is a leading global tyre manufacturer founded in 1871. The company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and employs around 78,000 people across 54 countries. Its Tires group sector, which includes premium car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tyres, recorded sales of €13.8 billion in fiscal 2025 and employs more than 56,000 people worldwide.
With Nevin Aslan-Özkan at the wheel, Continental Tires India is clearly gearing up for a smoother and more aggressive drive in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets. The road ahead looks promising.
