Apollo Tyres announces R Mahalakshmi as new CHRO

Apollo Tyres Ltd has appointed R Mahalakshmi as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) with immediate effect, the company announced on Thursday.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Mahalakshmi brings extensive HR leadership experience across diverse geographies including India, Africa, the UK, and Southeast Asia.

As CHRO, Mahalakshmi will join Apollo Tyres' Global Executive Committee and play a key role in shaping the company's global people strategy. Her responsibilities will include driving initiatives to maximise organisational effectiveness, updating people policies, and strengthening Apollo Tyres’ people-first culture.

“Mahalakshmi’s global perspective, deep HR expertise, and people-centric approach will be instrumental in unlocking our next phase of growth,” said Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd. “We look forward to her cultivating top talent, enhancing the company’s employer brand, and deepening employee engagement across geographies.”

Mahalakshmi most recently served at Mondelez International, where she was Head of HR for Southeast Asia. She previously held the role of CHRO for India at Mondelez, leading the function across six countries and 10 manufacturing units.

During her time at Mondelez, she was involved in supporting a business turnaround, while developing future-ready talent strategies and shaping an organisational culture aligned with growth objectives. Her experience spans key areas such as cultural transformation, leadership development, and workforce strategy.

Commenting on her appointment, Mahalakshmi said, “I am thrilled to join Apollo Tyres at such an exciting time in its journey. What drew me to this organisation is its strong purpose, dynamic culture and bold growth agenda. I look forward to partnering with our global teams to further strengthen our people strategy, foster a truly inclusive and high-performing culture, and make Apollo Tyres an even more exceptional place to work.”

Mahalakshmi has also held senior HR leadership roles at Big 5 consulting firms, as well as leadership positions in telecom, pharmaceutical, and FMCG multinational companies.

She will be based at the company’s headquarters in Gurugram and will report to Neeraj Kanwar.

Apollo Tyres, founded in 1972, is one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers and operates globally. The company has manufacturing facilities in India, the Netherlands, and Hungary, and markets its products under the Apollo and Vredestein brands in over 100 countries.

With this appointment, Apollo Tyres signals its continued focus on aligning its HR strategy with its global growth plans and evolving business priorities.