Former Maruti Suzuki managing director Jagdish Khattar passed away due to a cardiac arrest on April 26. He was 78 years old.
Khattar, a former bureaucrat, was considered one of the most high profile leaders of the Indian auto industry, and was credited for laying the foundation for Maruti's future growth.
He was with Maruti Udyog Limited between 1993 and 2007. He joined Maruti in 1993 as a director (marketing) and went on to become the managing director in 1999, first as a government nominee and then as a Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) nominee in 2002.
Before joining Maruti, Khattar -- an officer of the Indian Administrative Service -- served as the joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Steel, and at various administrative positions in the Uttar Pradesh government.
"This is a deep personal loss and has come as a big shock. We had worked together for many years. He is someone who had done a lot of good for Maruti," Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava told CNBC-TV18.
After retiring at the age of 65 in 2007, Khattar started Carnation, a multi-brand car sales and service network. The venture was acquired by Mahindra First Choice in 2018.
