Hyundai Motor India today announced that Tarun Garg will take over as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, effective January 1, 2026. He currently serves as Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Creta SUV-maker.
Garg is the first Indian national to take on the leadership role at Hyundai, since the company's establishment 29 years ago.
The appointment follows the decision of current MD, Unsoo Kim, to return to South Korea to assume a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company.
The decision was approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on October 14. As per the disclosure to stock exchanges, Garg will function as MD and CEO-designate until his formal assumption of office on January 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
Garg holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering) and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.
While he joined Hyundai in 2019 as Sales, Service and Marketing Head, he was appointed COO in 2023.
According to Hyundai, Garg brings deep insight into market and industry dynamics, with a proven ability to interpret trends, third-party insights, and future forecasts to shape practical strategies. He has also championed technological advancement through the introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) across nine models, while improving sales quality, reducing incentives, and expanding profit margins, the company said.
Garg's experience also includes developing wholesale and retail sales strategies, building premium channels, strengthening digital marketing, and expanding Hyundai's footprint in rural markets and the used-car segment. The company stated that he has held leadership roles in publicly listed entities, gained global exposure through IPO processes, and collaborated closely with headquarters on multi-functional operations in sales, after-sales, logistics and marketing.
Before joining Hyundai, Garg had a long association with the country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, where he began as a management trainee and went on to hold several key positions, including Regional Sales Manager, Commercial Business Head, National Sales and Network Head, and Executive Director of Marketing, Logistics, Parts and Accessories.
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