SKF India Ltd. (Automotive) has announced the promotion of Bhavna Panigrahi as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective January 1, 2026.
In her new role, Ms. Panigrahi will be responsible for leading the company’s people and organizational strategy. Her mandate will include talent management, HR operations, industrial relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. She will work closely with the leadership team to support business priorities, drive long-term growth, and further strengthen a culture anchored in inclusion, performance, and innovation.
Ms. Panigrahi brings more than 18 years of experience in Human Resources, having worked with several leading organizations.
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She joined SKF India in 2022 as HR Head – Technology Development and subsequently assumed the role of Head HR for the Automotive business. During her tenure, she led multiple strategic initiatives across people experience, talent acquisition, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), delivering strong outcomes and contributing to enhanced business performance.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Panigrahi said, “Calm leadership and inclusive innovation unlock creativity and resilience. As SKF India enters its next phase of growth, I am committed to building people strategies that are closely aligned with business goals, strengthen leadership capability, and foster an inclusive environment where individuals and teams can thrive. At SKF, we move people further, and I look forward to contributing to sustainable value creation for people, business, and society.”
With this appointment, SKF India reinforces its focus on strengthening leadership and people-centric practices to support its evolving business and growth ambitions.
