Abbott India has announced the appointment of Vinutha Mufti as its new Director, Business Human Resources, effective 16 December 2025. She takes over the role as part of a planned leadership succession, succeeding Rajan Kalantre, who will transition to another Abbott affiliate following the completion of his handover on 15 December.
Mufti, who joined Abbott in 2015, brings more than 20 years of HR leadership experience, backed by a strong track record across multiple business verticals. Over the past decade, she has held key strategic roles within the company’s Pharmaceuticals and Nutrition divisions. Her journey includes leading HR for Primary Care in 2020, moving into the role of Associate Director – Nutrition in 2022, and most recently overseeing HR for Abbott’s Specialty Care portfolio. Before joining Abbott, she spent ten years at IBM, where she managed HR business partnering, talent management, and organisational development initiatives.
The leadership transition reinforces Abbott India’s commitment to internal succession planning and talent continuity, a strategy that industry observers believe has contributed to the company’s long-term stability and performance. Mufti’s extensive experience across diverse business units positions her to further strengthen the organisation’s capability-building efforts, enhance managerial development programs, and advance its diversity and inclusion agenda.
Her elevation comes at a time when the pharmaceutical sector is navigating a rapidly evolving landscape marked by intensifying regulatory oversight, shifting workforce expectations, and increased competition for specialised talent. Abbott India has highlighted this appointment as part of its broader strategy to future-proof its HR practices and reinforce a robust leadership pipeline.
With Mufti stepping into the role of Director – Business HR, analysts expect Abbott India to sharpen its focus on organisational agility, workforce development, and integrated talent planning. These capabilities are viewed as critical for pharmaceutical companies aiming to sustain growth and maintain competitive advantage amid industry transformation.
