Bharat Forge Elevates HR Strategy with Srinivasu Malladi as New CHRO

Bharat Forge Names Srinivasu Malladi Chief Human Resources Officer as Company Eyes Global Growth

In a significant leadership move, Bharat Forge Ltd – the Pune-headquartered flagship of the diversified Kalyani Group – has appointed Srinivasu Malladi to the role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The appointment signals the company’s intent to place people strategy at the heart of its ambitious global expansion across automotive, defence, aerospace and industrial sectors.

Malladi, who previously served as Vice President and Head of HR at the company, announced the transition on LinkedIn, marking a natural but substantial step up in his responsibilities. In his elevated position, he will oversee the full spectrum of human resources for a workforce exceeding 15,000 employees, spanning multiple business units and geographies. His remit will extend to managing HR shared services across 10 legal entities within the Kalyani Group, with a strong focus on building a technology-enabled employee experience.

A seasoned professional with over 22 years of HR leadership, Malladi carries deep expertise across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, FMCG and technology. His career includes senior HR roles at Jubilant Ingrevia Limited, Granules India, GSK Consumer Healthcare India and Johnson & Johnson – organisations where he honed capabilities in industrial relations, union negotiations, workforce planning and large-scale organisational redesign. His hands-on experience navigating mergers, acquisitions and cultural integration makes him well-suited to lead HR at a company of Bharat Forge’s scale and complexity.

The timing of this appointment is telling. As Indian manufacturing conglomerates accelerate their global footprint, the CHRO role has evolved far beyond traditional HR functions. Leaders like Malladi are now expected to drive workforce digitalisation, future-skills development and transformation programmes that keep pace with factory automation and shifting labour dynamics. At Bharat Forge, which operates manufacturing facilities across India, Europe and North America, this challenge is particularly acute.

With its growing defence and aerospace divisions demanding specialised technical talent, Bharat Forge’s workforce strategy has become a competitive differentiator. Malladi’s appointment reflects the company’s recognition that strong HR leadership is no longer a support function – it is a strategic pillar of sustainable growth.