Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, January 2026 — Bhavna Panigrahi has stepped into the role of HR Head – Automotive at SKF India Ltd, taking charge of people strategy for one of SKF’s most critical business segments in India. Her elevation marks a key leadership milestone within the SKF Group’s India and Southeast Asia operations.
In this role, Bhavna will lead culture integration, leadership capability building, workforce transformation and strategic HR initiatives aligned to SKF’s automotive growth agenda, strengthening organizational readiness and people-led business impact.
Bhavna has built a progressive leadership career within SKF India Ltd, where she has consistently played a pivotal role in strengthening organizational culture, leadership pipelines and inclusive workplace practices. Most recently, she served as HR Head – Automotive Business & Central Functions, alongside leading Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for India and Southeast Asia, embedding inclusive leadership, workforce engagement and talent sustainability across multi-country operations.
Prior to SKF, Bhavna spent over five years at Schneider Electric, holding roles including HR Business Partner & Talent Manager and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, where she led leadership development programs, organizational effectiveness initiatives and DEI transformation journeys across India.
Earlier in her career, she was part of Tata Consultancy Services, managing performance, promotions, workforce analytics and compliance across large North America portfolios, gaining deep exposure to enterprise-scale HR operations and people analytics.
Bhavna holds an MBA in Human Resources from West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata.
About SKF India Ltd
SKF India Ltd is part of the global SKF Group, a world leader in bearings, seals, lubrication systems and friction-reducing technologies. Since 1907, SKF has enabled smarter, more energy-efficient and sustainable industrial operations globally. In India and Southeast Asia, SKF plays a critical role across automotive and industrial sectors, supporting customers in building more sustainable, competitive and energy-efficient operations.
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