Maruti Suzuki Names New CEO

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has appointed Kenichi Ayukawa, a longtime executive at parent Suzuki Motor Corp., as managing director and CEO of the Indian company, effective April 1.

Ayukawa is currently a Maruti director. He will replace Shinzo Nakanishi, who will retire at the end of this month after six years leading Maruti.

Ayukawa takes charge of a company facing an industry downturn and labor unrest. Maruti remains India's top-selling automaker. But its market share slumped to 37.8% last year from 53% in 2009 as foreign competition intensified and union troubles disrupted output.

Ayukawa joined Suzuki in 1980. He became treasurer of the company's U.S. unit in 1997 and went on to marketing jobs in Japan and Pakistan.