Pune, India — SKF India Automotive, a leading player in the automotive and industrial engineering sector, has announced the appointment of Bhavna Panigrahi as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The appointment highlights the company’s focus on building organizational capability, leadership development, and a future-ready workforce to support its continued business growth in India.
Leading HR Transformation for the Automotive Business
In her new role, Bhavna Panigrahi will oversee the human resources strategy for SKF India’s automotive division, driving initiatives across talent acquisition, leadership development, performance management, and employee engagement.
She will also play a key role in aligning HR programs with the company’s long-term business objectives, ensuring that SKF India Automotive continues to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high performance.
Over Two Decades of HR Leadership
Panigrahi brings with her over 20 years of experience across diverse industries and HR functions. Prior to taking on this role, she held multiple leadership positions within SKF India, where she was instrumental in driving people programs, strengthening organizational capability, and leading culture transformation initiatives.
Her expertise spans talent management, organizational design, employee relations, and HR operations, along with a strong focus on building leadership pipelines and future-ready skillsets.
Before joining SKF India, Panigrahi worked with several reputed organizations, contributing to human capital strategy, workforce development, and cross-functional leadership initiatives in dynamic, multi-sector environments.
Strategic HR Leadership in a Changing Industry
Industry experts note that Panigrahi’s elevation comes at a time when automotive and manufacturing companies are placing greater emphasis on strategic HR leadership to navigate talent scarcity, digital transformation, and evolving workforce expectations.
Her appointment reflects SKF’s commitment to creating a people-first organization that prioritizes employee growth, inclusion, and innovation while maintaining operational excellence.
“Bhavna’s leadership will be central to advancing our people strategy and ensuring that SKF India Automotive continues to attract, develop, and retain top talent as we evolve in a rapidly changing market,” a company spokesperson shared.
About SKF India Automotive
SKF India Automotive, a division of SKF Group, is one of the country’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of bearings, seals, and mechatronic components for the automotive sector. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and performance, SKF India supports global and domestic OEMs with advanced engineering solutions that drive reliability and efficiency.
The company continues to invest in digitalization and workforce capability, ensuring a strong foundation for growth in the evolving automotive landscape.
