New Delhi, India, July 2026 – Mankind Pharma has appointed Nilesh Kulkarni as Group HR Head, strengthening its leadership team as the company continues to scale its operations and advance its people and organizational transformation agenda.
Kulkarni will lead the human resources function across the Mankind Pharma Group, overseeing talent strategy, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, succession planning, culture transformation, workforce capability building, and people practices across the enterprise. His appointment reflects the growing strategic importance of human capital leadership in supporting business growth, innovation, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Prior to this elevation, Kulkarni served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited (BSV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mankind Pharma, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening talent capabilities, driving organizational effectiveness, and supporting business transformation initiatives.
With more than 25 years of experience in human resources leadership, Kulkarni has built an extensive track record across multinational and Indian pharmaceutical organizations, leading transformational initiatives across India, South Asia, and Europe.
Before joining BSV, he served as Director – People & Organization at Novo Nordisk India, where he led the HR function and partnered closely with business leadership to strengthen organizational capabilities and talent development.
Earlier, he spent over five years with Roche, including serving as Global Lead – Succession & Talent Management Process at the company’s global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. In that role, he was responsible for leading global succession planning and talent management processes while supporting leadership development across key business functions worldwide.
Prior to his global assignment, he served as HR Director, Roche Pharma India, where he led the people agenda across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, contributing significantly to organizational transformation, leadership capability building, and the establishment of sustainable HR practices.
Kulkarni has also held senior HR leadership positions with Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis Consumer Health, and Sanofi, where he led HR transformation initiatives, organizational integration programs, talent management strategies, workforce planning, and leadership development interventions across large and complex organizations.
His early career included human resources and industrial relations leadership roles with Voltas Limited and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, providing him with a strong foundation in employee relations, industrial relations, workforce management, and organizational development.
Known for his expertise in organizational transformation, talent management, succession planning, leadership development, culture building, and strategic HR leadership, Kulkarni brings a unique blend of global perspective and deep industry experience to his expanded role.
His appointment comes at a time when Mankind Pharma continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies, with increasing emphasis on leadership capability, organizational agility, and future-ready talent strategies.
About Mankind Pharma
Mankind Pharma is one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies and among the country’s top five pharmaceutical organizations. Founded in 1995, the company has grown into a diversified healthcare enterprise with a workforce of over 20,000 employees and operations across 34 international markets. Its portfolio spans prescription medicines, consumer healthcare, OTC products, and FMCG brands, serving millions of consumers through affordable and accessible healthcare solutions. Mankind Pharma continues to expand its presence across India and global markets while maintaining a strong focus on innovation, quality, and patient care.
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