Starbucks India appoints Sakshi Sud to lead HR amid expansion push

Starbucks India has appointed Sakshi Sud as its new people director and head of human resources, marking a key leadership addition as the coffee chain deepens its expansion in the country. The company announced the move as part of a broader effort to reinforce its people strategy and strengthen workforce engagement.

Sud joins from Beiersdorf, where she led human resources for India and global corporate functions. Her remit there included talent development, leadership capability programmes and equal-opportunity initiatives across the organisation. She brings nearly 15 years of cross-sector HR experience, having previously held roles at Infosys, ICICI Bank, Vodafone India, MSD India and the CK Birla Group.

In a message announcing her appointment, Sud said she aims to enhance Starbucks India’s “partner experience” — the company’s term for employee engagement — by promoting meaningful conversations, supporting thoughtful decision-making and reinforcing a people-first culture through everyday interactions.

Her arrival comes as Starbucks increases its focus on strengthening store-level culture, building managerial capability and improving retention across a fast-growing retail network. Industry analysts said the appointment signals the company’s intention to prioritise workforce development at a time when competition in India’s premium coffee segment continues to intensify.

Starbucks India, a joint venture between Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks Corporation, has been expanding aggressively in metropolitan and emerging cities. HR leadership is seen as critical to supporting that growth and managing the operational demands of a larger workforce.

Sud’s experience in HR transformation and culture-building is expected to support the company’s efforts to maintain consistency in employee experience while scaling operations. Her appointment also underscores the trend of consumer brands strengthening their human capital strategies as labour markets tighten and employee expectations shift.