Shakti Upadhyay steps down as Head of Marketing and PR at Kia India after seven years.Shakti Upadhyay has concluded his tenure as Head of Marketing and PR at Kia India, marking the end of a seven-year association with the automaker. His exit comes at a time when Kia India has established itself as a significant player in the country’s passenger vehicle market.
Upadhyay joined Kia in March 2018 as General Manager of Marketing and PR, a year before the brand’s official market entry. He was part of the founding leadership team that set up the company’s marketing and communications function, shaping Kia’s positioning strategy in India’s competitive automotive landscape.
In April 2023, he was elevated to Head of Marketing and PR, where he oversaw end-to-end brand communications. During his tenure, he led the launch campaigns for all of Kia’s models in India — starting with the Seltos, followed by the Sonet, Carnival, Carens, and more recently, the EV6. He also supervised initiatives across traditional advertising, digital platforms, public relations, and consumer research.
Career before Kia
Previously, Upadhyay worked with Samsung Electronics as Head of Marketing Communications, where he was involved in brand campaigns across consumer electronics and mobility. He also spent several years at Hyundai Motor India, where he played a role in promoting models such as the i10, Santro, Verna, and Sonata.
Kia’s market growth during his tenure
Since entering India in 2019, Kia has steadily grown its footprint and currently holds over 6 per cent of the domestic passenger vehicle market. Industry observers credit its early brand recall to strong product campaigns and aggressive communication strategies developed during Upadhyay’s time at the company.
Kia India has yet to announce the successor of Upadhyay. His next move has not been disclosed yet.
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