Hyderabad, Telangana, India, December 2025 – Cisco has appointed Gaurav Ahluwalia as Vice President and Head of People & Communities, India and South Asia in a full-time role. In this new position, he will lead the People & Communities charter for India and South Asia, supporting Cisco’s people, culture and talent agenda as the company continues to advance its technology leadership in the AI era.
Immediately prior to joining Cisco, Gaurav Ahluwalia served as a Partner at Ernst & Young Global Consulting Services in India, in a full-time role for about one year and ten months. This phase of his career added strong consulting exposure to his already extensive background in human resources and organization development, working with clients on people and business transformation themes.
Before his role at EY, Gaurav spent nearly eleven years and eleven months with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in a full-time capacity. He held the position of Managing Director and Head of Human Resources, playing a key leadership role in HR for one of the world’s leading financial services organizations in India over an extended period.
Earlier, Gaurav Ahluwalia spent close to nine years and seven months at HSBC in India in a full-time role as Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources. This experience further strengthened his leadership credentials in managing HR for large, complex, multinational businesses operating in the Indian market.
Gaurav began his HR leadership journey with Escotel Mobile Communications Ltd in India, where he worked for about five years in a full-time capacity as Chief Manager – HR & TQM. This role combined responsibilities for human resources and total quality management, providing him with early exposure to people, process and performance dimensions in a fast-growing telecom environment. Academically, he holds a Masters in HR & OD (MHROD) from the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi (1995–1997), specialising in HR, OD and Employee Relations, giving him a strong foundation in human resources and organization development.
Cisco is a worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world, enabling customers, partners and communities to build robust, trusted digital infrastructure through its industry-leading solutions and services.
With its AI-powered portfolio, Cisco helps organizations unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all, combining cutting-edge technology with a strong focus on people, culture and communities across its global footprint.
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