A large number of HR heads have changed jobs in India Inc. recently, moving between older and newer companies. At least 17 HR moves have occurred since May, with HR heads leaving companies like Reliance Industries, PepsiCo, and Philips to join others like Cipla, Dell, and Adobe. Headhunters indicate this level of HR movement is unprecedented. Reasons for the moves include deteriorating relationships between HR heads and CEOs/promoters, more outside opportunities, and lack of internal recognition or support for change. The demand for strong HR leaders remains high as companies need help with talent, culture, and workforce issues.

1. India Inc's Human Resources
Losing Humans Dime a Dozen
Movements happening from old economy companies to new-age ones

2. Contd..
A churn, unprecedented in recent times, is now shaking up HR circles across
India Inc. Since May , at least 17 HR heads have changed loyalties -with
movements happening across companies from old economy to new-age
ones. Reliance Industries, PepsiCo, Philips, Accenture, Cipla, Dell, Adobe,
Vodafone and Vedanta Group are some of them. Several top headhunters
involved with some of these with some of these searches declined to be
quoted for the story but said that a combination of factors -the relationship
between the promoter-CEO and HR head unravelling, increased outside
opportunities and in some cases, lack of internal recognition -were driving
the moves. “It's all happening at the same time,“ said the head of a leading
executive search firm. “For some people, it was a question of greater
opportunities outside the organisation: moving on to more challenging roles
or bigger brands. For others, it was their inability to adapt to the
organisational culture.“

3. Contd..
The latter reason, in fact, say both company circles as well as headhunters, is more
applicable to promoter-driven companies. “Often HR heads think they can make drastic
changes very early on in the new company but that is not possible. They do not realise that
company culture was built over decades by the promoter family and they will have to work
with their coterie and not topple them,“ said the India head of another international
executive search firm. He says they are currently sitting on seven HR mandates which is
unusually high.
An HR head who recently quit a prominent business group tells his side of the
story.According to him, while companies need the best HR leaders to help them navigate
through today's complex talent scenario, they aren't always receptive to changes.
“While their sales pitch is great, companies are unwilling to really go along with
professional advice. Or old coteries make professional HR a strain. Worst, HR heads get
blamed as an easy scapegoat.With more opportunities, they cut their losses rather than
waste their time,“ said the HR head who has since bagged multiple offers from other
companies.

4. Contd..
And while HR as a function is getting alienated from business in some organisations, overall
offers are aplenty; whether it's for those looking to cut losses or others looking to move for
better career opportunities or even personal reasons. Around 4 executive search firms
confirmed that they are sitting on a number of HR head mandates.
“Demand for good HR leaders has got accentuated. What's also changing fast is the nature
and role of the HR functions and its leaders. It's become more strategic. CEOs who are
running global companies need a HR leader as a strong partner, who'll help them with their
talent, culture and workforce competitiveness agenda,“ says Yashwant Mahadik, senior
vice president global head of human resources business transformation, IT and operations
of Philips who is expected to join Sun Pharmaceuticals as their CHRO.
A recent article published in the Harvard Business Review had Ram Charan, Dominic Barton
and Dennis Carey suggesting that the most important triangle of leadership in any
organisation is the CEO, CFO and the CHRO. It says that companies that have this
competent trio are more likely to win in the marketplace as compared to others.

5. Contd..
It explains the demand in quality HR talent those moving out and companies eager
to get them onboard. In the last few months alone, there have been exits galore
many of them high-profile. In July, Prabir Jha, CHRO of Reliance Industries quit ET
recently reported he is set to join Cipla soon while earlier this month, Vedanta
Group HR head Rajesh Padmanabhan put in his papers.
At PepsiCo, Chief People Officer Samik Basu has quit after a nearly 14-year stint,
while Krish Shankar, the head of human resources for South Asia at Philips is
believed to be joining Infosys as its global HR head. Other movements that have
happened since May include Madhavi Lall, who's joined Deutsche Bank as MD,
head-HR after a nine-month stint at Accenture; Ganesh Chandan who left Avantha
ERGO Life Insurance to join as president and CHRO, Suzlon Group; Somnath Baishya
who moved from Adobe India to Intuit India as director and headHR; Rohit Sandal
who's joined as Lenovo HR director from Dell and Vodafone HR director Ashok
Ramachandran who is now set to join the Aditya Birla Group. “The next stage we
will see is a generational shift. After all these senior seasoned HR leaders, there is a
generational shift that is bound to happen,“ sums up a senior headhunter.

6. For details and bookings contact:-
Parveen Kumar Chadha… THINK TANK
(Founder and C.E.O of Saxbee Consultants & Other-Mother
marketingandcommunicationconsultants.com)
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