Amanpreet Singh takes over from NV Balachandar as VP- group HR, Ashok Leyland

Amanpreet Singh Bhatia, the current VP – group HR, Hinduja Group, will take over as president & head-HR, Ashok Leyland. Ashok Leyland has decided to strengthen its sustainability agenda through its environment, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, in line with global best practices. The Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer has moved NV Balachandar, the current president – HR, communication and CSR, to the role of president – ESG. He will continue to handle communication, CSR and corporate affairs too.

With about 29 years of experience in the HR domain behind him, Bhatia will help drive the people agenda at Ashok Leyland now, in line with contemporary global practices, and steer the Company’s HR strategy in the current transformational context. Bhatia has been with the Hinduja Group in Mumbai since December 2019 working closely with the Group HR head on strategic aspects of Group HR.

Before joining the Hinduja Group, Bhatia was group CHRO at Escorts for over two years, based out of the National Capital Region, India. He has also worked as executive VP & group head – HR, for VE Commercial Vehicles for more than seven years. From 2006 to 2009, he was the country head – HR for Intertek Group.

Balachandar has been with Ashok Leyland for over nine years now. Before that, he was president and chief people officer, textile & apparel and acrylic fibre and overseas spinning business, for the Adity Birla Group. He led strategic HR for the Group for over nine and a half years. He has also served as VP – group HR for India Today for over two years, from 1999 to 2001. Other big names he has worked with are Indian Hotels – Taj Group of Hotels and Seagram.

With these changes, Ashok Leyland is gearing up to set new benchmarks in sustainability for the auto industry even while staying ahead of the curve in its people strategy.