MUMBAI—Mahindra Group has named Ruzbeh Irani as chief group communications and ethics officer, following the departure of Roma Balwani.

Irani has served in several roles at Mahindra, which he joined in 2007. He succeeds Balwani, who ended her nine-year relationship with the industrial group to take on the top comms role at Vedanta.

Irani joined Mahindra 2007, as EVP of corporate strategy. In 2009, he was also appointed chief brand officer, responsible for the group's ‘Rise’repositioning.

Subsequently, Irani led Mahindra’s entry into MotoGP and was appointed to the group's executive board in 2010. In 2012, he was appointed chief executive of Mahindra's international operations, overseeing efforts to build a global presence for its automotive and farm equipment businesses. 

“Communication plays a vital role in building the Mahindra brand on the global stage, and in strengthening our internal culture," said chairman Anand Mahindra. "It is especially crucial, given the Mahindra Group’s aspiration of joining the ranks of the Top 50 most admired global brands by 2021.”