R L Ravichandran, vice-president, business development and marketing, of Bajaj Auto has announced his intention to resign with effect from September 15. Joint managing director Rajiv Bajaj will now oversee the marketing function.
Ravichandran cited personal reasons for his decision and said that he will be migrating to a foreign country shortly.
Ravichandran piloted the transformation at Bajaj Auto from its over-reliance on scooters to a major player in motorbikes.
Ravichandran reaffirmed that relations between him and the management continued to be cordial.
"My objective was to realign the company in terms of products and market positioning and to facilitate a smooth transition for Bajaj from being a scooter maker to a leading player in motorcycles. I have accomplished it reasonably well, with Bajaj Auto now being the second-biggest player in the motorcycle market today."
"I've always stood behind Rahul Bajaj and been more than employee to him. This is a much considered decision and with this I'm hoping to learn and work out something that I've always wanted to," Ravichandran said.
Dismissing rumours that Ravichandran will be joining the two-wheeler faction of Suzuki Motors, Bajaj Auto Chairman Rahul Bajaj said: "Ravichandran has been a great member of the team, an outstanding person. We are very sorry to lose him. I know for a fact that he will not leave us to join another Indian company for a few lakhs more. He is relocating to a foreign country so it is obvious that the emoluments are substantially higher there. He will not join another two or three-wheeler company, but I can't rule out the possibility that he will be a part of some international car company."
Ravichandran, 53, has been with Bajaj Auto since January 1998. Before that he was vice-president, marketing and sales, at TVS Motors.
