Aurora, Ontario – Magna International has announced that Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri has been appointed CEO to replace Don Walker, effective Jan. 1, 2021, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.
Kotagiri will succeed Walker and his 33-year legacy at the company, serving as chief executive officer for Magna from 1994-2001 then from 2005 onward, with plans to retire following Kotagiri’s appointment.
“Given Swamy’s role in aligning the company’s strategy with the megatrends impacting new mobility and the ‘car of the future,’ he is the right leader to take Magna forward,” said Chairman of Magna’s Board of Directors William L. Young.
“Swamy has a strong command of the business, sound judgment, and is a strategic thinker who can drive disciplined execution. I’ve been impressed by Swamy’s ability to inspire people to think innovatively and deliver their best work to benefit Magna’s customers. Swamy also has an innate leadership quality of being able to take complex problems and break them down so that people can understand and solve them.”
Kotagiri has built his foundation of experience with Magna, having dedicated 21 of his 25 years in the industry with the Aurora-based company, most recently acting as chief technology officer for Magna.
