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 will replace Shinzo Nakanishi, who will retire at the end of this month after six years leading Maruti. Ayukawa is currently a Maruti director and served as treasurer of American Suzuki in the late 1990s.

The new CEO 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.