2 IN TOP GEAR

Pawan Munjal Chairman MD & CEO, Hero MotoCorp

` 59.7 crore (2016/17) ` 57.4 crore (2015/16) WHEN PAWAN MUNJAL, 61, became the managing director of Hero Honda in 2002, the company was already the world’s largest two wheeler maker. His acid test came in 2010 when he parted ways with Honda Motor Corp. But Hero MotoCorp has held firm, exploiting the strength of its brands and distribution while building technical expertise.

In 2015, Munjal also became the chairman, making him one of the highest paid CEOs in the country. His remuneration was ` 59.7 crore in 2016/17. This included a commission of ` 45.64 crore, with basic salary and perquisites making up the rest.

Munjal has envisioned Hero as a global player. The company began operations at its second factory outside India, in Bangladesh, in May 2017. He has not lost focus on India – the company recently began construction of its eigth manufacturing unit in the country in Andhra Pradesh. It will take the company's overall production to over a crore units per annum. Total income grew 6.4 per cent to ` 33,398 crore in 2017/18 while net profits rose 9.5 per cent to ` 3,697.4 crore.

To keep his nose ahead of competition, Munjal will have to dig into his wealth of experience.