Post retirement, DP Singh to turn educationist

For close to 15 years at IBM, Singh has held important positions at IBM including VP HR-resourcing; director-HR, IBM Daksh and area HR leader IBM (North); HR leader, Middle East and Africa, before finally donning the hat of VP and HR head, India and South Asia, IBM. 

DP Singh, who retired from IBM on Jan 31 as vice president and HR head, India and South Asia, has now joined Chandigarh University as senior executive vice president. He was with IBM for over a decade since Jan 2003.

Speaking to HRKatha, he says, “It is time to give back. The education industry needs experienced talent and what could be a better opportunity than to join a university? The sector also provides a great opportunity for continuous learning.”

Singh joined IBM in 2003, as VP HR-resourcing. He rose up the ranks to become director-HR, IBM Daksh and area HR leader IBM (North) and HR leader, Middle East and Africa, before finally donning the hat of VP and HR head, India and South Asia, IBM.

Summing up his journey at the Company, Singh says, “My tenure with IBM has been one full of learning, where the opportunities to contribute in newer and futuristic areas were unlimited. I enjoyed every day of my work. During this journey, I made many friends. My biggest take away from my job has been leaning how leveraging technology can help HR with business outcomes.”

Having started his career 38 years ago with Eicher, he was associated with three companies throughout his career. He also worked with Montari industries. During his professional journey, he has had the opportunity to work with automobile, chemicals, eye wear and eye care, packaging inks, BPO and IT industries.

Talking about the most memorable moments of his career, that helped shape him professionally, Singh says, “The first was when I was given responsibility of handling commercial activities along with HR way back in 1988; it helped me understand and learn businesses. This was followed by some responsibilities of a small manufacturing plant and merchant exports. The second memorable moment was when I started my own consulting! This taught me a lot about customer expectations and business solutions.”

“Joining Daksh as a startup, that got acquired by IBM gave me an amazing experience of managing scale supported by processes, customer centricity, leveraging technology and managing risk. My role in IBM as the Middle East and Africa HR leader really gave me huge global perspective working with teams from different nationalities. It taught me more about talent management and the importance of culture.

My tenures with Eicher and IBM strengthened my mindset— that one can be successful in business even with integrity. All these moments made me the professional that I am today,” he concludes.