3 Shocking Insights From Anshul Khandelwal’s Exit At Ola

The Indian electric vehicle (EV) giant Ola Electric finds itself at a critical juncture after two key executives resigned: Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Anshul Khandelwal and Chief Technology and Product Officer (CTPO) Suvonil Chatterjee. These high-profile departures illustrate the company’s struggle to hold onto top-tier leadership in the wake of ambitious expansion plans and a fluctuating market landscape.

The Resignations: A Timeline

Anshul Khandelwal has been part of the Ola group since 2018, building all marketing strategies from the house with Foodpanda, Ola Foods, and Ola Electric. According to an official statement, he left the organization for personal reasons on 27 December 2024. He is also one of the most famous aggressive campaigner’s marketers. This departure means a leader heavily imprinted on the Ola brand.

In parallel, another stalwart of the Ola Group since 2017 was Suvonil Chatterjee, who, along with his two hat-wearing roles as Chief Technology and Product Officer, also exited those positions. Chatterjee joined Ola as its Head of Design and steadily climbed the ranks to be one of the most influential figures at Ola after its founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal. His departure was a heavy blow to the company, as he was instrumental in product development and the advancement of technology.

A Pattern of Leadership Turnover

Not that Khandelwal and Chatterjee’s exits are isolated; they mark the beginning of a significant trend of top-level exits from Ola Electric. Indeed, their exit came when it was known that a whole series of high-profile exits had marred the company after co-founder and then Chief Technology Officer Ankit Bhati left the firm in 2019.

Since N Balachandar’s departure, Ola has operated without a Chief People Officer, further complicating its internal management. The company also has reported that its Head of Product Strategy, Head of Sourcing, and Vice President of Production have either quit or given notice. All teams have lost their jobs: engineering program management, product planning teams, and customer quality assurance. This means that whether Ola can continue these operations and strategic plans is far from certain.

Impact on Operations and Morale

Sometimes, a leadership gap occurs as Ola Electric expands its business to keep pace with India’s increasing demand for electric two-wheelers. However, turbulence clouds this firm. Over 500 staff members resigned recently and had annual remunerations above ₹50 lakh. Something seems wrong, such as a company’s work culture flaw or strategic discord.

Unfortunately, even the company head is not immune to such instability. For starters, it has reached the ranks of the employees’ psyche. Teams claim to be overworked, trying to recover from some experience lost in the most crucial employees. To that extent, the key function—the chief people officer—would be missing, which presents Ola with a barrage of issues associated with talent retention and recruitment.

Some employees have criticized the lack of apparent progress through the organization and the problems they have experienced. The lack of transparent career progression and smooth communication channels has increased the workforce’s disengagement. The further consequences may cascade into challenges that hinder companies from innovating and helping achieve the ambitious targets envisioned.

Market Reactions and Financial Implications

The financial markets knew the issues that existed internally within Ola Electric. The share dropped by 3.68% after it said it would go, ending at ₹90.09 at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Then again, there was an index edging up 0.3% into which this optimism about a situation like this would be managed and sorted by the firm, making investors look brighter.

Overall, a decline in EV sales mirrors Ola’s exit from leadership. India’s biggest electric two-wheeler manufacturer faces a threat to market position from its failure to meet affordability and reliability claims, jeopardizing the claim of competitiveness with the strides Ather Energy and Hero Electric are taking.

Further, although the campaigns are short-term successful, the company could not win over long-term consumer loyalty. Quality complaints about products, variable services, and delayed delivery have further alienated the consumers. All these issues highlight that problems with Ola are not just issues related to leadership but also have their roots in the firm basic operationsfirm’s basic operations.

Strategic Challenges and the Road Ahead

One of the critical issues that Ola Electric faces is its overexpand strategy. The firm intends to dominate the electric market but fails to execute anything nearly close to that plan. Departures like those involving Khandelwal and Chatterjee highlight severe disagreements at the strategic level.

Another reason Ola has faced criticism is its conduct of layoffs and organizational restructuring. Its haste in sacking entire teams has given the impression of an irresponsible management process and paved the way for people to discuss the long-term vision. This practice scares off the needed talent and investors in industries that require innovation and collaboration.

To overcome such challenges, Ola’s growth has to be more sustainable. The company must renew its leadership structure and form a collaborative work environment emphasizing employee welfare. By working through such a culture, it can regain trust in the workforce and other people.

Lessons from Competitors

Ola Electric can learn from its competitors and move ahead of the current situation. Ather Energy has developed a work culture, achieved customer loyalty through its quality products and consistent service delivery, and ensured employee satisfaction and customer trust, which can solve some of Ola’s systemic problems.

Constant changes in the face of the EV industry in technology, infrastructure, and policies keep changing. This is precisely what Ola also needs to follow. The research and development into operations and recruiting a quality leadership team with innovative acumen will drive Ola.

Competitors have also tested the value of community engagement. Some examples are holding events, engaging with other companies in the local area, and discussing environmental-related issues to build a positive brand image. However, other similar strategies might prove in favour of building on the market position for Ola.

Conclusion: A Critical Crossroads

It was a time for new chapters as the resignation of Anshul Khandelwal and Suvonil Chatterjee from Ola Electric came. Organizational priorities need a rethink in an organization that reels under instability in leadership, attrition of employees, and challenges in the market. To regain its position in the market, Ola needs to get its leadership house to create an effective workplace culture and join hands with the industry trend.

As dynamic as the electric vehicle industry is, innovation and adaptability are two things that will move one forward. Ola Electric’s story cautions small startups amid massive growth and market competition complexities. Only time will tell if the company can overcome difficulties and become more decisive in adversity.

But the road ahead looks quite challenging. Ola needs stable leadership and systemic issues worked upon in its operations before that. With a laser-like focus on long-term sustainability and playing to all of its strengths, that should be enough to pivot its current crisis into becoming a growth and transformation vehicle.