Shakti Upadhyay

CEO

Pune, Maharashtra, India20 yrs 11 mos experience

Highly Stable

Key Highlights

Transformed Kia from unknown to household name in India.
Led successful launches of multiple iconic automotive products.
Recognized in IAMAI Super 30 CMO Honor roll 2020.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a seasoned marketing leader in the automotive and consumer electronics industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Brand ManagementMarketing StrategyMarketing CommunicationsDigital MarketingDemand GenerationStrategic PlanningMarketing Pr

Other Skills

Account ManagementAdvertisingBrandingCampaign PlanningCategory ManagementCoaching & MentoringCompetitive AnalysisCorporate BrandingCreative StrategyCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Digital StrategyDirect MarketingIntegrated MarketingMarket PlanningMarket Research

About

Shakti Upadhyay is Vice President – Brands at Bajaj Auto Ltd, leading the marketing vision for some of India’s most iconic motorcycles. In this role, he is driving the brand strategy, consumer connect, and storytelling for a portfolio that has shaped the dreams of generations of riders in India and across the world. Previously, Shakti served as Head of Marketing & PR at Kia India, where he helped transform the company from an unknown challenger to a household name. He was instrumental in the launches of the Seltos, Sonet, Carnival, Carens, and EV6 — and more recently the Syros and Carens Clavis (ICE & EV). These campaigns blended bold positioning with emotional storytelling, making Kia’s voice stand out and setting new benchmarks in automotive marketing. Before Kia, he shaped premium product narratives at Samsung Consumer Electronics and contributed to Hyundai’s success in India. With an MBA in Advertising & Communication and a love for automobiles and technology, he brings creativity, clarity, and a challenger’s mindset to every role he takes on. Attainments: • IAMAI Super 30 CMO Honor roll 2020 • Effies 2020 – "How a virtually unknown brand launched 2019’s most successful premium CSUV" • Kia Motors Global award – Kia India for Excellence in Digital Marketing • President Award for Samsung QLED TV launch campaign H1’17 • Samsung Televisions Brand Attitude survey growth award 2012-13

Experience

Bajaj auto ltd

Vice President - Brands

Sep 2025 – Present · 6 mos · On-site

Kia india

Sr GM & Head of Marketing & PR

Mar 2018 – Sep 2025 · 7 yrs 6 mos · Gurugram, Haryana, India · On-site

Launched Kia Brand in India through establishment of overall Brand Marketing vision, strategy and implementation including setting up the core Kia India Marketing & PR team. Have been leading the Brand marketing & PR domain for all products since inception viz. Seltos, Sonet, Carnival, Carens and the newly launched EV6. Key responsibilities include leading Marketing Strategy / ATL / BTL/ Digital/ PR/ Research.

Marketing StrategyBrand ManagementPublic RelationsDigital Marketing

Samsung electronics

3 roles

Head of Marketing Communications

Promoted

Mar 2015 – Mar 2018 · 3 yrs

Demand generation of Samsung Consumer Durables through effective marketing communications, continuous consumer understanding via amalgamation of various data points & on-ground direct observations, enabling creative partners to strive for sharper communication & idea outputs with constructive feedbacks, Big scale media properties’ based campaign planning & execution across mediums including ATL, digital,OOH & mobile.

Marketing CommunicationsDemand GenerationCampaign Planning

Sr Manager Marketing

Promoted

Apr 2013 – Feb 2015 · 1 yr 10 mos

Brand head on Samsung Televisions
Key role in positioning Samsung as the most premium and largest selling TV range.
Strategic launch plans to drive relevance and create max local impact for all global TV products.
Key launches
Curved TV
UHD TV
Interactive televisions
Smart Televisions

Brand ManagementStrategic Launch PlansStrategic Planning

Manager Marketing

Apr 2010 – Mar 2013 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Hyundai motor india ltd.

2 roles

Deputy Manager - Marketing

Apr 2009 – Mar 2010 · 11 mos · New Delhi Area, India

Brand Manager role including ATL, BTL, New Product launch, OOH, Marketing PR, Digital Marketing & SNS, Brand Management & CSR activities.
Managed brands like i10, Santro, Accent, Verna and Sonata.
Also contributed as a brand lead on Hyundai Corporate brand and lead media strategy and initiatives for impact and launches.