Padmanabhan started his career at General Motors at the Warren Technical Center in 1989. He later helped restore the Cadillac brand to its former glory at the company's Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, which produced the revitalizing CTS, SRX and STS models. In 2004, he joined Daimler-Chrysler Corporation.
Prior to joining Royal Enfield, Padmanabhan was Managing Director of Chrysler’s South East Asia Global Sourcing Office based in Chennai, India and responsible for $1Bn of material sourced to its parent manufacturing units in the United States.
He has joined Royal Enfield two years ago, acting as COO under marketing CEO R.L. Ravichandran. During that time, the company posted a 21% growth in sales volume, 54% growth in sales turnover and a return to two digit profitability.
“Padmanabhan has already proven to be an outstanding leader for Royal Enfield while working alongside R.L. Ravichandran as company's Chief Operating Officer," said Kevin Mahoney, President of Classic Motorworks, Royal Enfield's United States distributor. "His world-wide experience in the automotive industry and passion for bringing new life to historic brands make him the ideal candidate to build on the success from recent years and continue Royal Enfield's growth as global brand."
Royal Enfield has been producing motorcycles for over 100 years, The company was founded in England in 1901, but in 1955, the manufacturing of the brand moved to its new headquarters in Chennai, India. Royal Enfield’s legacy in weapons manufacturing served as inspiration for the Bullet model name and brand's enduring motto "Made Like A Gun, Goes Like A Bullet".
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