SKF India appoints Bhavna Panigrahi as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Bhavna’s appointment marks a significant step in SKF India’s commitment to driving human capital excellence and reinforcing its position as a leader in the automotive and industrial sectors in India.

SKF India Ltd. (Automotive) has announced the appointment of Bhavna Panigrahi as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective January 1, 2026.

In her role as CHRO, Bhavna Panigrahi will oversee the organization’s people and organizational strategy, focusing on talent management, HR operations, industrial relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. She will collaborate closely with SKF India’s leadership team to support business priorities, foster long-term growth, and strengthen a corporate culture rooted in inclusion, high performance, and innovation.

Bhavna’s appointment marks a significant step in SKF India’s commitment to driving human capital excellence and reinforcing its position as a leader in the automotive and industrial sectors in India.

Bhavna brings over 18 years of rich experience in Human Resources, having contributed to several leading organizations. She joined SKF India in 2022 as HR Head – Technology Development and later took on the role of Head HR for the Automotive business. In these roles, she spearheaded strategic initiatives across people experience, talent acquisition, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), driving impactful outcomes and strengthening business performance.

Bhavna shared: “Calm leadership and inclusive innovation unlock creativity and resilience. As SKF India enters its next phase of growth, I am committed to building people strategies that are closely aligned with business goals, strengthen leadership capability, and foster an inclusive environment where individuals and teams can thrive. At SKF, we move people further and I look forward to contributing to sustainable value creation for people, business, and society.”

Bhavna’s appointment reflects SKF’s commitment to empowering people and driving progress for employees, customers, and communities.