Pune: SKF India Ltd. (Automotive) has announced the appointment of Bhavna Panigrahi as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective January 1, 2026.
The leadership move reinforces the company’s focus on strengthening its people and organizational strategy as it advances into its next phase of growth.
In her role as CHRO, Bhavna Panigrahi will be responsible for driving SKF India’s people agenda across talent management, HR operations, industrial relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
She will work closely with the senior leadership team to align human capital strategies with business priorities while fostering a culture anchored in inclusion, performance, and innovation.
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Bhavna Panigrahi to Lead SKF India’s People and Organizational Strategy
With over 18 years of experience in human resources, Bhavna Panigrahi brings deep expertise across people strategy, leadership development, and organizational transformation.
She joined SKF India in 2022 as HR Head – Technology Development and subsequently assumed the role of Head HR for the Automotive business.
During her tenure, she led several strategic initiatives across people experience, talent acquisition, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), contributing to stronger organizational capability and business performance.
Commenting on her appointment, Bhavna Panigrahi emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership and purposeful people strategies aligned with business objectives.
She highlighted her commitment to strengthening leadership capabilities and building an environment where individuals and teams can thrive while contributing to sustainable value creation.
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The appointment of Bhavna Panigrahi reflects SKF India’s continued commitment to empowering its workforce and driving progress for employees, customers, and communities.
Founded in 1907, SKF is a global leader in bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions, and related services aimed at reducing friction and improving energy efficiency.
The company operates in approximately 130 countries with around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. In 2024, SKF reported annual sales of SEK 98,722 million and employed 38,743 people globally.
