Bhavna Panigrahi Named CHRO of SKF India's Automotive Division

SKF India Ltd. (Automotive) has appointed Bhavna Panigrahi as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective January 1, 2026.

In her new role, Panigrahi will oversee the company's people and organizational strategy, including talent management, HR operations, industrial relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. She will collaborate with the leadership team to align HR initiatives with business objectives and foster a culture centered on inclusion, performance, and innovation.

Panigrahi has accumulated over 18 years of experience in human resources across various leading organizations. She joined SKF India in 2022 as HR Head for Technology Development before transitioning to Head of HR for the Automotive business. During her tenure, she led strategic initiatives in employee experience, talent acquisition, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), contributing to improved business outcomes.

"Calm leadership and inclusive innovation unlock creativity and resilience," Panigrahi said. "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."

The appointment underscores SKF's focus on employee development and organizational growth as the company continues to expand its automotive division operations.

SKF, established in 1907, manufactures bearings, seals, lubrication systems, and condition monitoring solutions. 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.