Appointments
Srinivasu Malladi takes charge as CHRO at Bharat Forge
Veteran HR leader with over two decades of experience takes charge of people strategy at Kalyani Group’s flagship engineering company.
Bharat Forge Ltd has appointed Srinivasu Malladi as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), strengthening the company’s leadership team as it expands across global engineering and manufacturing markets.
Malladi confirmed the move in a LinkedIn post this week, saying he was “starting a new position as Chief Human Resources Officer at Bharat Forge Ltd”.
The leadership transition places Malladi in charge of the company’s end-to-end human resources strategy, including workforce transformation, talent development, organisational design and industrial relations across its operations.
Bharat Forge, part of the Kalyani Group, is one of India’s largest forging companies and a major supplier to the automotive, defence, aerospace and industrial sectors.
A strategic HR role in a manufacturing giant
Malladi steps into the CHRO role after serving as Vice President and Head of HR at Bharat Forge, where he led the company’s HR function and worked closely with senior leadership to align talent strategy with business growth.
In his current role, Malladi oversees human resources operations for a workforce of more than 15,000 employees across multiple business units and locations, according to details on his professional profile.
His mandate also includes managing HR shared services across 10 legal entities within the Kalyani Group, aimed at creating a technology-driven employee experience and improving operational efficiency.
The appointment comes at a time when Indian manufacturing groups are increasingly investing in leadership capability, digital HR systems and talent development to support global expansion.
Industry analysts say the role of the CHRO has become more strategic in large manufacturing firms as companies navigate workforce automation, supply chain shifts and skills shortages.
Two decades of HR leadership across sectors
Malladi brings more than 22 years of HR leadership experience across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, FMCG and technology sectors.
Before joining Bharat Forge, he served as Senior Director – Human Resources at Jubilant Ingrevia Limited, where he led HR and industrial relations across manufacturing sites nationwide.
Earlier roles include leadership positions at Granules India Limited, GSK Consumer Healthcare India and Johnson & Johnson, where he worked on workforce planning, employee relations and talent development.
Throughout his career, Malladi has focused on industrial relations and complex workforce environments, including union negotiations and long-term wage settlements across manufacturing operations.
His experience also includes HR strategy during mergers and acquisitions, organisational redesign and cultural integration, areas increasingly important for large industrial groups expanding internationally.
Bharat Forge’s expanding global footprint
Bharat Forge is one of India’s leading engineering and technology companies with operations spanning automotive components, defence systems, aerospace engineering and industrial equipment.
The company is the flagship of the Kalyani Group, a diversified industrial conglomerate headquartered in Pune.
According to company disclosures, Bharat Forge operates manufacturing facilities in India, Europe and North America and supplies components to major global automotive and industrial companies.
In recent years the group has also increased its presence in defence manufacturing and aerospace engineering, sectors that require specialised talent and technical capabilities.
The company’s workforce strategy therefore plays a critical role in maintaining productivity, managing industrial relations and developing new skills within its manufacturing base.
Growing importance of HR leadership in manufacturing
Malladi’s appointment reflects a broader shift in the role of HR leadership in industrial companies.
Traditionally focused on recruitment and compliance, HR functions in large manufacturing groups are now expected to drive organisation transformation, leadership development and workforce digitalisation.
Industrial companies are also dealing with changing workforce expectations, tighter labour markets and increasing automation in factories.
These shifts require HR leaders to balance industrial relations management with long-term talent strategy, particularly in sectors where large unionised workforces remain common.
Malladi’s background in employee relations and manufacturing HR may prove valuable as Bharat Forge continues to expand globally while managing complex labour environments at home.
Looking ahead
The appointment signals Bharat Forge’s focus on strengthening its leadership bench as it navigates growth across automotive, defence and aerospace sectors.
With the global engineering industry facing rapid technological change, companies are increasingly relying on HR leaders to build future-ready organisations.
Malladi’s task will be to align talent strategy with the company’s expanding global ambitions, while maintaining operational stability across a large manufacturing workforce.
As industrial groups modernise operations and compete for specialised skills, the role of the CHRO is likely to become even more central to corporate strategy.
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