Kalpesh Pathak, assistant vice-president of supply chain management at Fiat India Automobiles (left), has taken on purchasing responsibilities for the carmaker, which were previously handled by Sudhir Chikhle.
“I am now responsible for FCA [Fiat Chrysler Automobiles] group purchasing activities in India along with supply chain management,” confirmed Pathak. “I am taking over this role from Mr Sudhir Chikhle who is moving on to another role within the group.”
Chikhle, who was previously assistant vice-president of corporate purchasing, has confirmed that he is moving to North America in February to take over as the global head of tyre and rubber for Fiat Chrysler.
Pathak has been in the role with Fiat India Automobiles since 2007, when he joined the company from General Motors India. As assistant vice-president of supply chain management at FCA, he is responsible for the supply chain management of vehicle, powertrain and corporate divisions, based in Ranjangaon, near Pune.
Pathak has spent more than two decades in supply chain management within the automotive, consumer durables and engineering industries. Throughout his career, he has been involved in establishing supply chain business models and business practices for five green field projects in India, as well as overseas (three in automotive, one consumer durable and one in the engineering industry).
Chikhle had worked in Fiat purchasing in India for four years, including for logistics. Before leaving his current post, Chikhle gave an interview to Automotive Logistics about his procurement and logistics philosophy in India.
*This story was updated to reflect the confirmation of Sudhir Chikhle's new role
