Khattar to step down as Maruti MD on Dec 18

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the country's biggest carmaker today said Jagdish Khattar will retire as managing director on December 18 on attaining the age of 65 and Shinzo Nakanishi, who is currently the chairman of MSIL will succeed him.

R C Bhargava, who is a director, has been named the new chairman.

The changes were approved by the Board of Directors at a meeting today, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) Chairman Osamu Suzuki said.

A Bachelor in Arts (Honours) degree from St Stephen's College, Delhi and a LLB from Delhi University, Mr Khattar joined the Indian Administrative Service.

Khattar joined the company on July 1, 1993 as director (marketing) and went on to become executive director (marketing). In 1999, he was appointed as the second Managing Director of Maruti Udyog.

That year, on August 18, 1999, after a controversy between Suzuki and the Government, he was nominated by the Government of India and appointed to the post of managing director and chief executive officer.

In order to fulfill a revised joint venture agreement that stated that the Government of India and Suzuki take turns appointing a new Managing Director and Chairman every tenure, Khattar resigned and was immediately re-appointed as managing director, nominated by Suzuki, on May 30, 2002.

Mr Suzuki also announced further rejig to the management positions of the company with Tsuneo Kobayashi, presently Sr Joint Managing Director returning to Japan and Tsuneo Ohashi succeeding him as Director in charge of Production.

Mr M Osada, presently Director (R&D) shall return to Japan and Mr T Hasuike, currently Managing Executive Officer in SMC, will succeed him with effect from January 1, 2008 as Director in charge of Product Planning and Technical Divisions.

Mr Suzuki added that the board has now decided for more Indians to top management positions in the company.

''We will now look at enabling more Indian managers to reach top positions. This will be in the areas of administration, marketing, production and engineering,'' Mr suzuki said, UNI