Kamal Karanth, MD-Kelly Services, calls it quits

Karanth plans to roll out his own venture in the talent space.

Marking a key exit from the staffing firm, Kelly Services, that set shop in India in 2001, its managing director, Kamal Karanth has decided to leave the firm. He is currently serving his notice.

Karanth, plans to take a two-month break, post which he will roll out his own venture in the talent space. His plans to create something of his own were simmering for the past few months and that is why he decided to leave Kelly and focus on that full time.

Sharing his trigger, Karanth says, “I was brought in to turnaround Kelly in India. So, having accomplished that and also having done an international stint managing Kelly Malaysia, I feel fulfilled. That was the trigger — I felt that entrepreneurship was a good way to look at the next level in life.” Karanth shared that his new talent venture should be out and rolling by January 2017.

With two decades of learning across the recruitment and pharma industry, in sales and profit-centre management, Karanth has been known for setting up staffing business operations, talent supply chain consulting, change management and turnaround.

After graduating in microbiology, he started his career in pharmaceutical sales and moved on to the biotech industry in sales again. After seven years of pharmaceutical/ healthcare experience, he found his calling in the recruitment industry. He now has 13 years of experience in the area of hiring across APAC.

Karanth will be succeeded by Thammaiah B, as the managing director at Kelly Services. Thammaiah has been with the organisation for six years now. He was the country director before Karanth decided to resign. An XLRI graduate, he joined Kelly in 2010 and has also worked with Ma Foi Management Consultants and Eli Lilly in the past.