Car India – August 2019

ANURAGMEHROTRA

ManagingDirector,FordIndia

PRASAN FIRODIA

KEVIN FLYNN

CEO & MD, Force Motors

President and MD, FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) India

Kevin Flynn began his career as an apprentice

motor engineer and worked his way to the

top, in the process earning the respect of his

peers in the automotive industry. Since his

entry into FCA in 2015, Flynn has overseen the

establishment of the Jeep brand in the

country. Prior to this, he was the MD at Jaguar

Land Rover in South and Sub-Sahara Africa.

He also played a vital role as the GM of Lexus,

South Africa, by setting up a profitable five-

year plan. Kevin is also the MD of FCA Australia

and will continue to shoulder both the

responsibilities until a successor is named for

FCA India.

By putting his leadership skills and business

acumen to good use, Flynn contributed to the

phenomenal rise of the Jeep brand in the

country with the launch of the Compass. Now

Jeep are making waves in the market with the

launch of the capable Compass Trailhawk. The

coming months may be crucial for Flynn’s

chapter in India because the company is

moving their focus away from the FIAT brand

and entirely on Jeep. Also, the new Jeep

Wrangler is on the way.

After Abhay Firodia’s tenure, his son, Prasan,

took over the reins of Force Motors in 2009.

Under his leadership, the company explored

an entirely new route in the form of the

prestigious Rainforest Challenge. In addition

to promoting the brand, it also served as a

great platform for encouraging off-roading

talent in the country.

Force Motors is not the only responsibility

for Prasan, though, for he is also the MD of

Jaya Hind Industries, an aluminium die

casting company and modern aluminium

foundry.

Earlier this year, Force Motors launched the

Gurkha Xtreme armed with the more powerful

2.2-litre, turbo-diesel with 140 hp and 320 Nm.

Otherwise, Force Motors are being extremely

secretive about their future plans.

Mehrotra took over as the MD of Ford India in

June 2017 after being promoted from the

position of executive director (marketing,

sales, and service). During that stint, he had

made quite a name for himself with brilliant

marketing campaigns.

This expertise was something he built from

his time at WNS Global services, a leading

business process outsourcing company. There

he was in charge of brand building in North

America and Europe.

The past year has been a quiet one for Ford

India with only a facelift for the EcoSport,

Endeavour, and a couple of special editions.

Going into 2020, we hope to see the all-new

Mustang and, maybe, even an option in the

electric vehicle space.

http://www.carindia.in August 2019 CAR INDIA 121