Tata Projects elevates HR Leader Shirly Burla to CHRO role

Tata Projects has elevated Shirly Burla to the role of chief human resources officer (CHRO), promoting a senior internal leader to steer its people strategy.

Burla, who joined the engineering and construction major in June 2023, was previously serving as vice president and head of HR for the energy and industrial business. Her elevation comes after more than two years with the company and over two decades in human resources leadership roles.

The appointment signals continuity in HR leadership at a time when infrastructure and EPC companies are scaling operations across energy, transport and industrial projects.

Long HR career across industries

Burla began her professional journey in communications, working as an associate at Genesis BCW between 1999 and 2000, followed by a stint of over three years at MSL (Global) as senior consultant at Hanmer MSL.

She then moved to Siemens, where she spent more than 13 years in progressively senior roles. Joining in 2004 as head of press, internal communications and CSR for South Asia, she later transitioned into core HR functions. Over time, she was elevated to head of talent acquisition for South Asia and subsequently to head HRBP for the building technologies division.

In September 2017, Burla joined Shapoorji Pallonji Group as head of HR for SP EPC. More than three years into that role, she was promoted to head of learning and organisational development and corporate HR. She spent nearly six years with the group before moving to Tata Projects.

At Tata Projects, she initially led HR for the energy and industrial business, overseeing workforce planning, capability development and HR operations aligned to large-scale infrastructure projects.

Academic and leadership background

Burla holds an MSc in Physical Chemistry from Mithibai College and has completed a strategic leadership programme at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Her career reflects a transition from communications into mainstream HR leadership, with experience spanning talent acquisition, business partnering, learning and organisational development.

Strategic HR at a growth phase

Tata Projects operates across sectors including power generation and transmission, transportation systems, water and waste management, oil and gas, and large industrial facilities. As infrastructure spending accelerates and projects grow in scale and complexity, HR leadership has become central to attracting specialised engineering talent and strengthening organisational capability.

By elevating an internal executive with cross-industry experience, Tata Projects appears to be prioritising stability and business-aligned HR leadership.

Burla’s mandate as CHRO is expected to focus on workforce expansion, leadership development and organisational transformation as the company navigates a competitive infrastructure landscape.