“I would like to thank Kunal for his leadership and invaluable contribution to SAMIL. Kunal has helped create a strong platform and hereafter will lead our transformation efforts for achieving Vision 2030. The change is a testament to the Group’s strategic efforts in achieving Vision 2030. I am pleased to welcome Gandharv to SAMIL, and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in further strengthening the Company. I am also delighted to welcome Mr Hemant Barge into the Motherson family, we look forward to gaining from the expertise he brings to our organization.” Laksh Vaaman Sehgal, Vice Chairman, Motherson Group
Samvardhana Motherson International Limited has recently announced the appointment of Mr Gandharv Tongia as Group Chief Financial Officer Designate. Following his appointment as Group Chief Financial Officer Designate, Mr Tongia will commence a handover period from Kunal Malani. Mr. Tongia’s formal appointment as Group Chief Financial Officer will commence on 15 November 2025. Kunal Malani is being elevated to President-Group Strategy & Transformation, effective from 15 November 2025, to drive efforts to achieve Vision 2030.
Mr. Tongia is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has gained credible exposure to functional and institutional leadership. In a career spanning more than two decades, he has worked at the intersection of Strategy, Transformation, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Taxation, Investor Relations, Audit, Consulting, Information Technology, Digital Transformation, etc., in Big 4 Audit firms as well as at Polycab India Limited, a large Indian multinational Group. He has won several accolades for best CFO from ASSOCHAM, BW Businessworld, CII, Dalal Street, etc. He is also a recipient of the ICAI’s CA Business Leader award in 2024. Beyond his Corporate leadership role, Mr. Tongia has consistently championed inclusion and social responsibility. He has chaired the CFO Forum for the Western Region at CII and the CFO Council at ASSOCHAM. Mr. Tongia brings a collaborative leadership style, clarity of vision, and multifaceted exposure, and will be part of the Motherson Leadership Team reporting to the Board.
Kunal Malani was instrumental in the creation of Motherson 2.0 as part of Vision 2025. He helped steer the Company through the COVID pandemic, enabled sustained 2.5x growth over the last 5 years, allocated capital, and helped integrate 20+ acquisitions, while ensuring financial discipline that helped the group achieve an international investment-grade category, an “AAA rating” in India, and an “A rating” in Japan.
The second announcement is that Hemant Barge, joins the group as Chief Procurement Officer. Hemant is an engineer by education and has served the Tata Motors Group for more than 3 decades in various capacities, including leadership roles in Sourcing, Manufacturing, and post-acquisition Business Transition.
Laksh Vaaman Sehgal, Vice Chairman of Motherson Group, said, “I would like to thank Kunal for his leadership and invaluable contribution to SAMIL. Kunal has helped create a strong platform and hereafter will lead our transformation efforts for achieving Vision 2030. The change is a testament to the Group’s strategic efforts in achieving Vision 2030. I am pleased to welcome Gandharv to SAMIL, and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in further strengthening the Company. I am also delighted to welcome Mr Hemant Barge into the Motherson family, we look forward to gaining from the expertise he brings to our organization.”
