In a career that spans over thirty years, Mussarat Hussain has quietly but steadily forged a reputation as one of India’s most seasoned and respected HR leaders. From plant HR in manufacturing, to leadership development in the automotive industry, to now heading Human Resources for a cutting-edge R&D centre under a global Japanese automaker, his journey exemplifies adaptability, integrity, and deep human-centred leadership.
At a time when HR is increasingly viewed as a strategic enabler — not a back-office function — Mussarat’s trajectory embodies precisely that shift. His blend of cross-industry exposure, multi-cultural sensitivity, board-level engagement and grassroots people management gives his a rare vantage — and a powerful legacy.
1. From Manufacturing Floors to Global HR Leadership
Mussarat’s HR journey began from grassroots: working in plant HR and administration roles in manufacturing industries such as Eicher and HEG Limited in the 1990s and early 2000s. Over the years he moved into senior HR roles in heavy-engineering firms (like KHD Humboldt Wedag), corporate HR leadership in automotive manufacturing, and later — critical transformation, training and leadership-development roles at Bharat’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
During his tenure at Maruti Suzuki, he led Leadership & HR Transformation, Corporate HR, and ultimately the Leadership & Functional School — designing talent pipelines, competency frameworks, leadership readiness programs, succession planning and aligning HR strategy with business growth.
This hands-on, end-to-end exposure prepared his not just for business-as-usual HR, but for transformational change — across people, processes, structure and culture.
2. Steering Change at the Frontier: Suzuki R&D Center India
Since December 2022, Mussarat serves as Head – Human Resources at Suzuki R&D Center India Private Limited (SRDI). In this role, he oversees HR strategy for an R&D facility — bridging global Japanese automotive heritage with Indian innovation talent, aligning cross-cultural teams, shaping people processes, organisational values, talent design, and nurturing a culture tuned for sustainable mobility and technological advancement.
Under his leadership, HR at SRDI positions itself not just as support — but as a catalyst for innovation, diversity, values-driven ethics, and sustainable culture. The official leadership-team page of SRDI features his as a guiding figure for building “a force for change,” reinforcing HR’s role in shaping tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem.
3. A Trusted Voice in HR Community & Industry Bodies
Beyond corporate roles, Mussarat has significantly contributed to HR and industry ecosystems:
- He served as Hon. Vice President of NHRDN Delhi NCR Chapter (2021–2023) and remains a recognized thought leader in the HR fraternity.
- He is a member of the CII Northern Region Committee on HR & Industrial Relations, and also part of the CII Regional Committee on Skill Development & Livelihood (2022–2025) — contributing to strategic HR-policy, skill ecosystem and labour-industry dialogue.
- He has actively supported education and social causes — previously as Trustee & Secretary of the Awanish Dev Memorial Trust (2013–2022).
- As educator and mentor, he engages with academic institutions and emerging professionals — for example, delivering masterclasses and talks on HR management and career development.
Through these roles, he has influenced more than just employees — he has helped shape the broader ecosystem of people, policy and change in Indian industry.
4. Recognition & Accolades: A Career of Enduring Excellence
Over his decades-long career, Mussarat’s professional contributions have been acknowledged with several honours:
- Fr. Michael Van Den Bogaert Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), awarded in 2020–21.
- Named among “20 Most Impactful HR Leaders” at the CHRO Vision & Innovation Summit & Awards 2022.
- Recognized as a Top HR Professional to Follow on Social Media in 2021 for his thought leadership and public engagement.
These honours reflect not only recognition of his personal journey, but the respect he has earned across peers, institutions and industry bodies.
5. Leadership Ethos: Strategy with Heart, People with Purpose
What makes Mussarat’s leadership resonate is his ability to balance strategic rigour with human empathy. He is described as a leader who listens, coaches, bridges cultures, and designs people-centric systems even in high-pressure industrial and R&D contexts.
His journey shows that HR leadership at its best does not only manage talent — it shapes identity, safeguards values, enables growth, and builds cultures that last.
As SRDI continues to push boundaries in sustainable mobility and innovation, Mussarat Hussain remains one of the few veteran HR leaders guiding the journey — bringing three decades of wisdom, commitment, and human insight to tomorrow’s enterprise.
HR TODAY salutes Mussarat Hussain — an enduring leader, a thoughtful change agent, and a torchbearer for HR excellence in India’s evolving corporate landscape.
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