May 2026 | Leadership & Pharma Services News | Global – Syngene International has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Maninder Kapoor Puri as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Abhijit Zutshi as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective May 1, 2026.
Both executives will join the company’s Executive Committee, reflecting a strategic focus on people capability and commercial expansion as Syngene enters its next phase of growth.
Strengthening Global People Strategy
Maninder Kapoor Puri brings nearly 30 years of experience across biopharmaceuticals, IT services, and consulting, with exposure to global markets including North America, EMEA, and APAC.
In her new role, she will lead Syngene’s global people strategy, with a focus on:
- Aligning workforce planning with business growth
- Driving organisational capability and culture transformation
- Strengthening leadership development initiatives
She previously served as CHRO at Biocon, where she led enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. She has also held leadership roles at Mastek, Accenture, and Firstsource Solutions.
Her contributions have been recognised by Outlook Business and HR Today, where she has been featured among leading HR professionals globally.
Driving Commercial Expansion Across Global Markets
Abhijit Zutshi joins as Chief Commercial Officer and will be based in the United States.
He will oversee:
- Global sales and client partnerships
- Marketing and brand strategy
- Digital initiatives and account management
With nearly 27 years of experience, Zutshi has deep expertise in global pharmaceutical markets. He spent over two decades at Biocon, where he most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer of its generics business.
His experience spans:
- Drug substance and drug product divisions
- Global team building
- Market entry and portfolio strategy
Earlier in his career, he worked at Pfizer, contributing to key product launches in India.
Leadership Strategy Aligned to Growth
The dual appointments signal Syngene’s focus on strengthening two critical pillars:
- Workforce capability and organisational development
- Commercial execution and global expansion
Peter Bains, Managing Director and CEO of Syngene, said:
“We are pleased to welcome Maninder and Abhijit to Syngene’s leadership team. Their depth of experience and strong track record in their respective domains will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our service offerings and enhance our value proposition for clients worldwide. These appointments reinforce our commitment to building a world-class leadership team capable of driving our next phase of sustainable growth.”
Company Overview and Growth Context
Syngene International operates as an integrated research, development, and manufacturing services provider for industries including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Nutrition
- Specialty chemicals
Key highlights:
- Over 8,300 employees, including 5,700+ scientists
- More than 3 million sq. ft. of research and manufacturing infrastructure
- Around 400 global clients, including leading pharma and biotech firms
Conclusion
With the appointment of a global HR leader and an experienced commercial executive, Syngene International is positioning itself for sustained growth.
The company’s next phase will depend on how effectively it can align talent strategy with commercial execution, as demand for integrated research and manufacturing services continues to rise globally.
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