Anoop Prakash didn’t know how to ride a bike until he joined the famous motorcycle company Harley-Davidson in 2010.

That was the first thing he learnt on the job. Since then he has not only put Harley-Davidson ahead in India, he also developed the leisure biking market, a segment that hardly existed when Harley entered India.

His connection with Harley goes back to his childhood days in Minnesota in the US, which shares its borders with Wisconsin – Harley-Davidson’s headquarters. As a child he was fascinated with Harley riders who came over on weekends. He grew up to become a US Marine Corps officer, where he served for four years.

Prakash, went to Stanford University as an undergraduate, and to Harvard Business School for an MBA after his stint with the Marines. He was a consultant with McKinsey & Co.

In 2009 he was appointed as the Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India, where he led company market entry into India, and established subsidiary operations, with full responsibility for sales, business development and marketing for Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, and General Merchandise, and oversight of Assembly Operations.