Hero MotoCorp’s appointment of Shivalika Chadha Malik as Head of Communications signals a deliberate strengthening of the company’s reputation, narrative control, and internal alignment as it navigates a rapidly evolving mobility landscape. With over 18 years of experience across corporate, brand, crisis, and internal communications, Malik brings a depth of expertise well-suited to a large, globally visible organisation undergoing strategic transition.
Malik’s move from PepsiCo AMESA, where she led brand communications across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, adds a valuable multicultural and multi-market lens to Hero MotoCorp’s leadership bench. Her prior role in shaping corporate reputation at PepsiCo India, combined with over a decade at Avian We. Media, gives her a rare blend of in-house leadership and agency-side strategic rigor critical for managing complex stakeholder ecosystems.
For Hero MotoCorp, communications is no longer a support function; it is a strategic growth lever. As the company balances its legacy leadership in internal combustion vehicles with expanding ambitions in electric mobility, sustainability, and global markets, clear and credible storytelling becomes essential. Malik’s background in crisis management and internal communications will be particularly relevant in ensuring organisational cohesion while managing public and regulatory scrutiny.
The appointment also reflects a broader trend among large Indian corporates: elevating communications leadership to drive trust, consistency, and long-term brand equity. In sectors like mobility where technology shifts, regulatory change, and consumer expectations collide strong narrative stewardship can materially influence market confidence and employee engagement.
Overall, Malik’s appointment underscores Hero MotoCorp’s intent to future-proof its corporate reputation, align internal and external narratives, and communicate its transformation journey with clarity and conviction.
