The Sleep Company has appointed Udhaya Shankar M as its new chief human resources officer, as the fast-growing consumer brand strengthens its leadership team and sharpens its focus on people and culture.
The company said Udhaya brings more than 17 years of HR leadership experience across retail and consumer-facing organisations, with expertise spanning talent acquisition, employee engagement, capability building, rewards and HR analytics.
His appointment comes as The Sleep Company scales its operations across stores, warehouses and corporate functions, requiring more structured people systems and future-ready talent strategies.
Most recently, Udhaya served as Head – HR Operations at Metro Brands Ltd, where he played a key role in strengthening HR practices and people processes across the organisation.
Over the course of his career, Udhaya has partnered closely with business and promoter leadership to redesign organisations, optimise costs and build inclusive, performance-driven cultures aimed at sustainable growth.
“We are excited to welcome Udhaya into The Sleep Company family,” said Priyanka Salot, co-founder of The Sleep Company. She described him as a seasoned HR leader with experience spearheading people practices at scale, adding that his technology-enabled approach and execution focus would support a smooth transition into the role.
As CHRO, Udhaya will lead the company’s people and culture agenda, with priorities including strengthening the employer brand, building future-ready talent pipelines and enhancing employee experience across the organisation.
The appointment reflects a broader trend among India’s consumer and retail startups, where rapid expansion is driving increased emphasis on professionalised HR leadership and workforce strategy.