Ahead of crucial Ciaz launch, Maruti COO said to have quit

Maruti Suzuki over the recent months has seen senior management rejig after the Japanese parent Suzuki Motors tightened its hold on various divisions. The company’s top management rejig came after a year-long labour trouble at its Manesar plant in 2011-12.

In a reorganization in April this year, three senior chief operating officers (COOs) were asked to share responsibilities with their Japanese counterparts.

But Pareek's resignation has come at an inopportune time for India's largest carmaker, which has been trying to have a crack of at the premium sedan market with the Ciaz.

Replacing the SX4, the Ciaz is the latest attempt by the company to break out of its "small-car" positioning. The premium sedan segment has long been dominated by the Honda City and, recently, the Hyundai Verna.

In a recent interview with Mint, Pareek had admitted the new launch would be a challenge for the carmaker and that its sales executives were prepared to even take "pursue a customer for a week" -- a far cry for a company whose customers often line up to have test drives of its its small-car launches.

The outgoing COO had told the newspaper that the company had received 3,500 bookings since the pre-bookings opened four days ago.

In the premium hatch segment in July, the Honda City (after its recently-launched avatar) sold 7,696 units while the Hyundai Verna sold 2,853 units.