Gurugram, Haryana, India, July 2026 — SMS group India has promoted Manoj Kumar Pathak to Regional Head HR & HS for APAC & MEA, expanding his leadership responsibilities across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa regions as the company continues to strengthen its people, organizational, and health & safety capabilities across its global operations.
In his new role, Pathak will lead the Human Resources and Health & Safety (HR & HS) agenda across the APAC and MEA regions, driving strategic workforce planning, talent management, organizational development, leadership capability, employee engagement, HR transformation, governance, and workplace safety initiatives. He will play a key role in aligning regional people strategies with SMS group’s global business objectives while supporting sustainable growth across diverse international markets.
Pathak has been associated with SMS group India for more than 15 years, steadily progressing through several leadership positions. Prior to his promotion, he served as Assistant Vice President – HR Management & Development (HRM & HRD), where he led strategic HR initiatives covering talent management, organizational development, HR systems, employee engagement, leadership development, and policy design. Earlier, he held the positions of Chief General Manager – HRM & HRD and General Manager Human Resources, contributing significantly to the evolution of the company’s people practices and organizational capability.
Before joining SMS group, Pathak spent over five years with ABB as an HR Business Partner, supporting business transformation and strategic HR initiatives. Earlier in his career, he held HR leadership roles with Herbal Concepts Health Care, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Amar Ujala Publications, building broad expertise across manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, and media sectors.
With more than 25 years of HR leadership experience, Pathak has developed deep expertise in Human Resources Strategy, Talent Management, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, HR Business Partnering, Employee Engagement, HR Transformation, Performance Management, Learning & Development, HR Policies, Workforce Planning, Change Management, Health & Safety, Industrial Relations, and People Strategy.
His promotion reflects SMS group’s continued investment in strengthening regional leadership and building a future-ready workforce that supports the company’s long-term growth and operational excellence across APAC and MEA.
About SMS group India
SMS group is a global leader in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the metals industry, with more than 150 years of engineering heritage, over 13,500 employees, and operations across 86 locations worldwide. Through innovative technologies, digital solutions, and lifecycle services, the company supports customers across ironmaking, steelmaking, rolling mills, forging, extrusion, automation, and sustainable metals production.
SMS group India, headquartered in Gurugram, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS group GmbH, Germany, with offices in Pune and Kolkata and advanced manufacturing facilities in Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad. The company plays a critical role in supporting the steel and metals industries across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa regions while advancing sustainable, low-carbon, and future-ready manufacturing technologies.
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