Siddhartha Lal

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Eicher Motors Ltd

LAL’S EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS BEGIN WITH THE famous Doon School. From there he went on to St Stephen’s College in Delhi and earned a degree in economics. This was followed by a master’s degree in automotive engineering from the University of Leeds and a Cranfield University qualification as a mechanical engineer.

Siddhartha Lal’s ascension to the helm of Royal Enfield took place at the young age of 26 when he assumed the post of CEO in the year 2000. He soon climbed up the corporate ladder and took on the title of COO for holding company Eicher Group a mere four years on. He didn’t rest on his laurels, though; instead he made some drastic decisions such as trimming down the company’s various holdings and focusing predominantly on Eicher and Royal Enfield.

Lal has made a steady effort to increase the profile and quality of the top echelon at Royal Enfield, and to do that he has made some astute appointments. Pierre Terblanche, one of the most renowned designers in the world, was tempted away from Ducati. This was quickly followed by stellar acquisitions for the firm’s R&D centre in the UK in James Young and Simon Warburton, both formerly of Triumph. Lal has made more moves in the technology side of things by acquiring a cent per cent ownership of Harris Performance Products, UK. This engineering firm has made a name for itself in design and development of performance parts and chassis.

The convergence of these automotive titans within the Royal Enfield fold and Lal’s leadership have resulted in the firm’s latest creation: the Himalayan. This adventure sport bike is something that’s never been seen before in the Indian market, and marks an important chapter in the history of this legendary brand.