Harley-Davidson Announces New Chief Digital Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) has appointed Jagdish Krishnan as Chief Digital Officer, focusing on enhancing consumer experiences through digital transformation. Krishnan will spearhead a new digital strategy to connect with customers and modernize global information systems. This role is part of Harley-Davidson's initiative called The Rewire, aimed at overhauling the company's operating model to create better customer-centric solutions. The company anticipates revealing its strategic plan, The Hardwire, by Q4 2021.

Positive

• Appointment of Jagdish Krishnan as Chief Digital Officer enhances focus on digital consumer experiences.
• New digital strategy aims to improve online and dealership retail experiences.
• Krishnan's experience in digital transformation may drive advanced growth.

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• None.

Milwaukee, Aug. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. ("Harley-Davidson") (NYSE:HOG) announced today that Jagdish Krishnan will join the company as Chief Digital Officer.

A holistic, forward-focused consumer experience will be central to Harley-Davidson’s long-term strategy. The new role of Chief Digital Officer is responsible for building relationships with existing and new consumers by providing best-in-class digital experiences connected to the Harley-Davidson brand.

In this role, Krishnan will lead the development of a new digital strategy that will enable the company to deliver the most desirable customer retail experience, whether online or in dealerships, with innovative, direct-to-consumer technology supporting eCommerce and dealer digitization. This includes building seamless and satisfying digital interfaces with products, services, commerce and Harley-Davidson’s global dealer network. To enable this strategy, Krishnan will lead the modernization of Harley-Davidson’s global information systems that support all business operations.

The creation of this new role and focus is part of The Rewire, the company’s efforts to, among other things, overhaul its operating model and provide a better starting point for the future. The Chief Digital Officer is one of several roles and functions created or elevated to report directly to Chairman, President and CEO, Jochen Zeitz to build desirability for the Harley-Davidson brand and products.

“Harley-Davidson is all about experiences, and an enhanced digital experience is absolutely critical for us to make our GIS and digital capabilities more customer-centric. We will take a completely different approach to applying digital technology across the company to fundamentally change how we operate and create value. To deliver on our objectives, we must have an innovative and high-performance IT function,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “We need to be a high-performing team with cutting edge leadership to move us forward. Jagdish is exactly the right leader and he will ensure we connect with our customers at all touch-points.”

Krishnan has more than twenty years of experience leading digital transformation and brings strength in partnering with business stakeholders, leadership and customers to identify needs and deliver solutions to position organizations for advanced growth. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Bose Corporation, where he championed the transformation of the business model and the operating model leveraging digital technologies. Prior to Bose, he was with Deloitte & Touche and Patni Computer Systems, where he had a broad mix of experiences including P&L responsibility, information security, enterprise software deployment, programming and IT operations. Krishnan earned a Bachelor of Science with honors in computer engineering from Pune University and a master’s degree in data communication and distributed systems from Oxford University.

The Rewire is expected to continue through the end of the year, leading to a first look at the company's 2021-2025 strategic plan, The Hardwire, expected in the fourth quarter.

Company Background
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.

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Media Contact:
Jenni Coats
jenni.coats@Harley-Davidson.com
414.343.7902

FAQ

What is the significance of Jagdish Krishnan's appointment at Harley-Davidson?

Jagdish Krishnan's appointment as Chief Digital Officer is significant as it emphasizes Harley-Davidson's commitment to enhancing consumer experiences through digital transformation and modernizing their operations.

How will the new digital strategy impact Harley-Davidson?

The new digital strategy aims to connect consumers with the Harley-Davidson brand more effectively, improving both online and in-store shopping experiences.

What is <em>The Rewire</em> initiative mentioned in the press release?

The Rewire is an initiative by Harley-Davidson focused on overhauling the company's operating model to create more customer-centric solutions and improve digital experiences.

When is Harley-Davidson expected to unveil its strategic plan <em>The Hardwire</em>?

Harley-Davidson plans to unveil its strategic plan, The Hardwire, in the fourth quarter of 2021.