A Belagavi connection has found a place in the senior leadership of one of India’s biggest automobile companies. Srihari Mulgund has been appointed Chief Strategy Officer of Hero MotoCorp, bringing more than 24 years of experience in the global automotive industry to one of the country’s most prominent two-wheeler manufacturers.
Mulgund’s appointment took effect on August 17, 2026. Hero MotoCorp has inducted him into its Leadership Team and designated him as part of the company’s Senior Management under the applicable listing regulations.
For Belagavi, the appointment carries a special connection. Mulgund is a 1992 batch alumnus of St. Paul’s High School, Belagavi. From his school years in the city, his professional journey has taken him deep into the global automotive industry, spanning engineering, vehicle technology, consulting and corporate strategy.
More than two decades in the global automotive industry
Mulgund brings over 24 years of experience covering engineering, product development and strategic planning. His career has included professional assignments in the United States, Japan, China and India, giving him experience across several major automotive markets.
His early career was rooted in engineering and automotive technology. He worked with Aisin AW and FEV Inc., including more than a decade in the United States, working on areas such as transmission development and calibration. He later moved into strategic consulting, where his technical background became an important part of his work with automotive companies.
He subsequently became President of Ricardo Strategic Consulting, India, and later took on leadership responsibilities across Asia. During this phase, his work expanded from engineering and product development to business strategy, technology and transformation.
From automotive engineering to boardroom strategy
Before moving to Hero MotoCorp, Mulgund was a Partner at EY-Parthenon, where he led strategic engagements across some of the most important areas currently reshaping the automobile industry.
His work covered electric vehicles, battery technologies, internal-combustion engine businesses, automotive supply chains and new-age mobility.
His expertise also extends to emerging automotive technologies. He has authored thought-leadership work on subjects including battery swapping, software-defined vehicles, alternative battery chemistries and hydrogen internal-combustion engines.
One of his recent areas of work has been automotive lightweighting. In a March 2026 article published by The Times of India, Mulgund, then Partner and New-Age Mobility Leader at EY-Parthenon, examined the growing strategic importance of magnesium in vehicle manufacturing, particularly as the industry moves towards electric vehicles.
Why his new role at Hero MotoCorp matters
The Chief Strategy Officer is not a routine functional appointment. Mulgund joins Hero MotoCorp at a time when the global automobile industry is undergoing a fundamental transition — with traditional internal-combustion technology evolving alongside electric mobility, connected vehicles, new battery technologies and changing consumer expectations.
Hero MotoCorp says Mulgund will play a key role in shaping and advancing its forward-looking strategic initiatives, including its “House of Strategy”, as the company works towards its next phase of growth and innovation.
His background is particularly relevant to this mandate because it combines hands-on automotive engineering experience with technology consulting and corporate strategy.
An international education and career
Mulgund’s academic background reflects the same combination of engineering and management.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore, a Master of Science from the University of Toledo, and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
His University of Michigan profile also records his involvement as an MBA student ambassador and his role in establishing an India Business Conference at the university’s Ross School of Business.