Senior Manager - New Business Development & Strategy

Company Description

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan has established a new Digital Innovation entity in India to accelerate growth through customer intelligence, digital platforms, connected experiences, and next-generation mobility solutions.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, this organization will combine Honda’s global scale with India’s technology ecosystem to build capabilities that directly influence product strategy, customer growth, and new business creation across India and other high-growth markets.

Role Description

We are looking for a Sr. Business Planner to lead the design, validation, and commercialization of new business opportunities emerging from Honda’s innovation initiatives and startup collaborations.

In this role, you will transform startup solutions and strategic business priorities into scalable business models and actionable business plans. Working closely with Innovation Program Managers, startup partners, and senior leadership, you will serve as a key driver in bridging opportunity identification and business realization.

A core mission of this position is to design customer-centric businesses. Beyond revenue generation, you will create business models that enhance customer engagement, strengthen ongoing customer relationships, and contribute to Honda’s long-term growth.

You will lead the development of new business opportunities across the mobility ownership lifecycle, including vehicle acquisition, ownership services, digital engagement, finance, insurance, and used vehicle ecosystems. You will also drive alignment and decision-making with key stakeholders, including Honda's automobile and motorcycle business entities.

We are looking for a leader who can drive initiatives end-to-end, from strategy development through commercialization, while creating both customer value and business value.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, design, and validate customer-centric business models leveraging startup solutions, digital platforms, and strategic partnerships
• Translate business opportunities into executable business plans, revenue models, and go-to-market strategies
• Create business concepts spanning the mobility lifecycle, including vehicle acquisition, ownership services, digital engagement, finance, insurance, and used vehicle ecosystems
• Build business cases through commercial feasibility assessments, financial planning, investment analysis, and KPI design
• Continuously refine business models through customer research, PoC/pilot design, performance validation, and feedback analysis
• Collaborate with Innovation Program Managers and startup partners to evaluate and develop new business opportunities
• Drive stakeholder alignment and support strategic decision-making across senior leadership, internal executives, and affiliated business entities such as HCIL and HMSI
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, competitive landscapes, and industry developments to identify future growth opportunities
• Develop executive-level proposals and establish governance frameworks required to support business planning and execution

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years of experience in Business Strategy, Corporate Strategy, New Business Development, Corporate Venture/Investment, Management Consulting, or related fields
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience in developing and launching new services, businesses, platforms, or business models
• Demonstrated experience leading initiatives from strategy development through execution and business validation
• Hands-on experience in business case development, revenue model design, and commercial feasibility assessment
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving senior executives and multiple business functions
• Ability to structure ambiguous challenges and drive informed decision-making in uncertain environments
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proven project management and stakeholder management experiencePreferred
• Experience in automotive, mobility, financial services, insurance, digital services, platform businesses, or related industries
• Experience working with startups, incubation programs, accelerators, or open innovation initiatives
• Experience in a strategy consulting environment, delivering end-to-end projects from strategy development through execution and impact assessment
• Experience in business operations, business development, or corporate planning with P&L responsibility
• Experience in customer experience design, customer engagement programs, membership models, or subscription-based businesses
• Experience in partnership strategy, alliance development, or ecosystem-based business models
• MBA or other advanced degree focused on Business, Strategy, Finance, Innovation, or Entrepreneurship

Why Join

• Lead the creation of Honda’s next-generation mobility and digital businesses
• Work directly with senior leadership and contribute to critical business and investment decisions
• Operate at the intersection of startups, technology, and business strategy
• Create new businesses that can influence both the Indian market and the broader Honda Group
• Build growth businesses that simultaneously create customer value and business value
• Gain opportunities to develop into a future business leader with ownership and strategic management responsibilities