Neeraj Kanwar — CEO

As Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo Tyres Limited, Neeraj Kanwar has been pivotal in establishing Apollo’s position as one of the world’s most-admired automotive tyre brands. He has pioneered key initiatives that have greatly enhanced the competitiveness of the company’s operations and products. He has taken Apollo Tyres Limited from a US$450 million turnover to more than US$3 billion. The 2026 target is $5 billion. Neeraj began his Apollo career in 1997 as Manager, Product & Strategic Planning. He then became Chief Manufacturing and Strategic Planning Officer, creating comprehensive change in industrial relations, efficiency and technology use. In 2002, he took over as Apollo Tyres Limited’s Chief Operating Officer, introducing value-driven process improvements in human resources and IT. He became Joint Managing Director in 2006, then Managing Director in 2009. He has transformed Apollo Tyres Limited into a truly global company. It acquired Dunlop Tyres International in South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2006, and Vredestein Banden B V in the Netherlands in 2009. It has also set up a production plant in Hungary and has five other manufacturing locations in India. It has over 19,000 employees and serves more than 100 countries. One of Neeraj’s current focuses is to implement Industry 4.0. He has established digital innovation hubs in Hyderabad, India, and the UK, partnering with Glasgow University. Their research is helping Apollo use technologies like IoT, AI, and robotic process automation to become more sustainable and efficient. Apollo Tyres Limited has placed an increasingly strong emphasis on sustainability and CSR, during Neeraj’s leadership. It has reduced the rolling resistance of its EV and other tyres by as much as 25%, lowering fuel consumption and the amount of waste, for instance, and created projects including large-scale health programmes for India’s trucking community. Neeraj is a people-centric leader who empowers employees to take effective decisions. The company’s employee relations have been recognised by external agencies including The Great Place to Work Institute, which named it best place to work in the Indian automotive sector. Neeraj is involved with several prominent industry associations, and a former chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, India. He is also part of the World Economic Forum’s Automobile Governors group. A sports fan, Neeraj has established a sponsorship association with Manchester United and was instrumental in cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar becoming company ambassador.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in the automotive industry with a focus on sustainability and digital transformation.

Experience: 29 yrs 3 mos