Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), a government-owned company specialising in aerospace and defence, has named Atasi Baran Pradhan as the director of human resources on July 19, 2023. Pradhan has been associated with HAL since 2005 and had been concurrently fulfilling the responsibilities of special duty officer at its corporate office and general manager (HR) at the Bengaluru Complex.
With a career spanning over three decades in HR, Pradhan brings extensive experience across industries such as engineering, metallurgy, aerospace, and defence. Pradhan’s expertise lies in a wide array of HR functions, encompassing areas such as CSR, wage negotiations and settlements, statutory compliance, recruitment and career advancement, skill development and training, as well as legal affairs.
Pradhan has consistently played a pivotal role in his career by spearheading the implementation of IT-enabled HR systems. One of his career defining moments comprises securing multiple wage agreements through collective bargaining, enhancing work efficiency with innovative approaches like piece-rate wages and reduced standard man hours and overtime.
Moreover, he introduced TPM (total productive maintenance) concepts like Kaizen and Fugai, contributing to process improvements. Additionally, Pradhan successfully streamlined the contract labour system and played a key role in outsourcing non-core HR activities.
Recently, HAL and Safran, a manufacturer of rocket engines and aircraft, jointly unveiled their new venture in Bengaluru. The primary focus of this collaboration will be the development of a new power plant for the proposed 13t Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) and its deck-based multi-role helicopter (DBMRH) naval version, as stated by both companies.
Pradhan holds a postgraduate degree in personnel management and labour welfare, along with a degree in law.
