Raj Kishore Naik: A Life Built Around Automobiles
Raj’s diverse experience across engineering, supplier quality, and team leadership reflects his lifelong commitment to building reliable vehicles and empowered teams.
There are people who see machines as tools, and there are those who feel them breathe. Raj Kishore Naik belongs to the second kind. His connection with engineering began long before he led teams or managed projects. It began the day as a child he stood beside a engine getting fired along with his father in their Family Business which he oversaw at NIT Rourkela and watched it come alive once again. The hum, the vibration, the pulse of metal in motion, something about it resonated deeply within him.
That moment was more than mechanical wonder. It was the beginning of a relationship between curiosity and creation. He realized how harmony between design and discipline could transform an idea into movement. That realization became the foundation of a career spanning over 3 decades across Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and now Ashok Leyland.
As Vice President at Ashok Leyland, Raj persists to build what he once dreamt of as a student, machines that carry strength, precision, and reliability. But his true legacy lies in the culture he shapes. He believes real engineering excellence is not just about performance metrics but about the mindset of people who build with purpose.
Colleagues often describe him as calm yet decisive, a leader who listens before he leads. For Raj, progress is about balance. The same balance he once saw in the sync of an engine that first captured his heart.
From that moment of ignition to decades of innovation, Raj’s journey is proof that when passion meets precision, motion becomes meaning.
Let us learn more about his journey:
A Journey Fuelled by Passion for Automobiles
Raj’s journey began with a deep passion for automobiles. After graduating from National Institute of Technology Rourkela (earlier REC) in 1991, he started his professional career with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. The institute played a strong role in forming his early mindset toward practical engineering. It gave him the space to explore ideas with rigor and curiosity. It also helped him understand how theory meets real-world application. That grounding stayed with him through every stage of his automotive journey.
Raj believes that institutes play a critical role in forming industry-ready engineers. He often emphasizes that students need early exposure to real project environments, supplier interactions, and problem-solving practices. He continues to advocate for stronger collaboration between industries and academic institutions so that the skills students gain are aligned with what the automotive sector truly needs. His view is simple. When institutes and industries work closely, the gap reduces and students enter the workplace with confidence and practical awareness.
His fascination with engineering precision and vehicle performance quickly became evident, leading to his deputation to the Engineering Department at Suzuki Motors, Japan, for two years. Those two years shaped his perspective on quality, innovation, and the discipline required to excel in automotive engineering.
When he returned to India, he joined the Engineering Research Centre at Tata Motors, Pune, and worked within the Small Car and Passenger Car Engineering divisions. Later, he moved to Ashok Leyland, beginning with the LCV team before joining the MHCV group. Each phase of this journey built his foundation in automotive design, engineering, and leadership, preparing him for the broader responsibilities that lay ahead.
Lessons from a Diverse Career in Automotive Leadership
Raj’s career reflects a rare balance of hands-on technical expertise and strategic leadership. After his induction at Maruti Suzuki, he gained early exposure to core engineering functions and product development. His deputation to Suzuki in Japan deepened his understanding of design philosophy and production excellence.
Upon returning, he joined Tata Motors, where he became part of the Passenger Car Engineering division. At Ashok Leyland, his journey expanded further, from LCV design and sourcing to Plant Quality, Defence parts development, and Parts Quality functions for M&HCV, LCV, IO and PSB.
Through this wide spectrum of roles, Raj gained insights into almost every functional area of Vehicle Development. This diversity equipped him to lead teams confidently, foresee challenges, and connect strategic intent with on-ground execution.
The Impact of Early Exposure on Innovation and Quality
Raj considers his early exposure to multiple functional areas a turning point. Beginning his career in the Engineering Department at Maruti Suzuki and spending two years in Japan taught him the global standards of precision and process excellence.
His time at Tata Motors’ Engineering Research Centre and later across divisions within Ashok Leyland, including AL-Nissan, LCV Engineering, SSC, and SQ for Defence, shaped his expertise in Supplier Quality and New Parts Development.
This blend of experiences strengthened his belief that Innovation and Quality are not separate disciplines but parallel paths that must advance together.
A Defining Decision in Supplier Management
During the development of parts for the AC Mandate project, Raj faced a defining moment. The T0 parts available for tryout had known deviations. While others hesitated, Raj decided to proceed with the trial since it was supposed to be used for machine trials and internal purpose only.
This bold decision accelerated the learning curve for the team and revealed valuable insights that might have been lost in excessive caution. The project’s success reinforced his belief in calculated risks and timely execution, principles that have guided him throughout his career.
The Philosophy Behind Effective Mentorship
Raj believes the best leaders are those who create more leaders. His mentorship philosophy revolves around granting full independence and complete responsibility to team members.
He encourages freedom of thought, openness to suggestions, and accountability during challenges. By allowing engineers to make independent decisions and learn from outcomes, he builds confidence and ownership within his teams. For Raj, the process of mentoring is not about direction, it is about empowerment.
Empowering Teams Through Trust and Independence
Raj promotes a fearless culture of decision-making. His teams are encouraged to think independently, explore unconventional solutions, and take ownership of their choices.
By trusting his team’s judgment and fostering transparency, he builds an environment where ideas can evolve without hesitation. This culture of mutual respect and independence drives consistent innovation and performance excellence.
Maintaining Balance Between Operations and Vision
In a field where operational precision meets visionary leadership, Raj maintains a steady balance. He closely monitors TGR (Things Gone Right) and TGW (Things Gone Wrong) metrics, ensuring continuous improvement across every process.
His focus on using high-quality raw materials and reliable manufacturing processes ensures that the company’s output aligns with both immediate goals and long-term vision. For him, operational discipline and strategic foresight are inseparable.
Staying Motivated Through Continuous Learning
Raj’s motivation stems from his commitment to learning something new every day. The automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and he sees this change not as a challenge but as an opportunity.
He stays updated on emerging technologies, design methods, and quality systems, keeping his curiosity alive. This constant pursuit of learning not only sharpens his expertise but also inspires his teams to grow alongside him.
Collaborations that Drive Innovation
Raj believes that real innovation comes from collaboration, not competition. He treats suppliers as valued partners and considers them part of an extended family.
Recognizing that suppliers are often pioneers in their domains, he encourages open knowledge sharing and leverages their core competencies to co-create better solutions. By exchanging insights and learnings from various OEMs, he ensures that every partnership contributes to collective progress.
Through his decades of experience, Raj Kishore has proven that passion, when guided by discipline, can transform industries. From designing compact cars to leading large-scale supply chain operations, his story reflects the power of persistence and purpose.
He remains, above all, a learner, someone who believes that every day brings a new opportunity to improve, to inspire, and to build. And that is what makes his journey not just a professional success, but a legacy in motion.
