'This is the start of Hyundai India's next phase of growth'

Tarun Garg was named on Wednesday the next managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL).

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Garg (55) — currently the whole-time director and chief operating officer of HMIL — will become the first Indian to take over the role on January 1, 2026. Incumbent Unsoo Kim will return to a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), South Korea. Garg was the chief orchestrator of HMIL's initial public offering (IPO) in 2024, the largest public offering in the history of the Indian equity markets. An IIM Lucknow alumnus, Garg’s sharp focus on profitability, sustainability and customer experience positioned HMIL at the forefront of the SUV segment leadership. Soon after the announcement, Garg, in conversation with Sohini Das in Mumbai, outlines his plans for the company and looks back on his journey. Edited excerpts:

Tell us about your journey so far.

■ My father was a mathematician, and a famous author. Discipline in the house was very strong and I was a good student. So did my engineering, followed by an MBA.