Relaxo names HR veteran Manju Kohli as new CHRO

Relaxo Footwears has appointed Manju Kohli as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, strengthening the footwear maker’s leadership team as it navigates expansion in a competitive consumer market.

Kohli brings more than two decades of experience across multinational and high-growth companies, with a career anchored in organisation design, HR transformation and capability building. Her background spans technology, media, education, agri-tech and manufacturing, giving her a broad operational lens across varied business cycles.

The leader has led several complex restructurings, including post-merger and acquisition integrations, where she has aligned organisational culture, systems and governance with investor expectations. She has been recognised for championing leaner operating models, technology-enabled processes and a performance-focused culture aimed at sharper business outcomes.

Before joining Relaxo, Kohli served as Senior Vice President, People & Culture at Terviva between May 2024 and August 2025. She previously held the role of CHRO at UWC South East Asia from 2017 to 2023, following a four-year stint at Pearson, where she was Vice President, Human Resources.

Earlier in her career, Kohli led HR for HR Media as Chief People Officer – Digital Media & Mobile Solutions, and headed HR and industrial relations at Carlsberg Group from 2006 to 2008. She has also worked with Oracle Financial Services Software, Actis and ITC Limited, building a track record of steering workforce strategy in both Indian and global settings.

With consumer sentiment fluctuating and supply chains under pressure, Relaxo’s HR agenda will likely centre on productivity, capability development and organisational agility. Kohli’s appointment suggests the company is preparing for a more integrated approach to people strategy as it scales for the next phase of growth.