Abhineet Kothari Takes Over as Marketing Head for India and South East Asia at Apollo Tyres

Apollo Tyres has announced the elevation of Abhineet Kothari to the role of Marketing Head for India and South East Asia. With a career rooted in sales, brand strategy, and category leadership, Kothari steps into this expanded position with a decade of rich experience across the automotive and fintech sectors.

Apollo Tyres has promoted Abhineet Kothari to lead its marketing operations across India and South East Asia, marking a significant leadership shift within the company. With this appointment, Apollo is placing its marketing direction in the hands of a seasoned expert whose background spans both the automotive and digital payment ecosystems.

Kothari has been with Apollo Tyres since April 2024, serving as the Category Head for Passenger Vehicles. In this role, he played a pivotal part in shaping product strategies and driving consumer engagement in a fiercely competitive segment. His new position will expand his responsibilities to a broader geographical scope and unlock opportunities for deeper brand penetration and market innovation across multiple countries.

Before joining Apollo Tyres, Kothari was with Paytm, where he served as Associate Vice President for Payments between April 2022 and April 2024. During his time there, he led growth initiatives in the fintech space, helping scale user engagement and strategic partnerships within Paytm’s payment vertical. His time at Paytm sharpened his understanding of digital consumer behavior and innovation led marketing strategies.

However, it was during his nine year journey with Castrol that Kothari laid the groundwork for his marketing credentials. Between 2014 and 2022, he held several key positions, starting as a Brand Manager and rising through the ranks to become Category Manager. He also led regional sales teams during this period, giving him a robust understanding of ground level execution and customer dynamics. From brand building to sales enablement, Kothari’s trajectory within Castrol made him a well rounded marketing leader.

His promotion comes at a time when Apollo Tyres is focused on strengthening its regional footprint and elevating brand visibility in high growth markets. The company has been investing in technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and consumer centric innovations to position itself as a preferred choice in the mobility sector. With Kothari at the helm of marketing for India and South East Asia, Apollo is expected to double down on culturally resonant campaigns, digital first outreach, and integrated brand storytelling that speaks to the evolving consumer.

Kothari’s rise to this leadership role reflects a growing trend in the industry, where companies are prioritising leaders with multi sector experience and digital fluency. His unique blend of automotive grounding and fintech agility makes him well suited to navigate a complex landscape where marketing must connect across platforms, demographics, and regions.

As he begins this new chapter, Kothari will be instrumental in steering Apollo Tyres through its next phase of growth. His journey so far has demonstrated a deep commitment to strategic clarity, cross functional collaboration, and consumer empathy, qualities that are essential for any brand looking to lead in today’s fragmented yet hyper connected markets.

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