Sriharsha Achar, director-HR, Apollo Hospitals, has decided to move on. He is taking on a new role as chief human resources officer (CHRO), at HDFC Ergo General Insurance Services.
At Apollo Hospitals, Achar used to lead the entire HR function, which included talent acquisition, talent management, HRBP, compensation & benefits, as well as compliance. He was responsible for developing the HR — culture, systems, frameworks and service-delivery capabilities, to support the overall business goals of the Group.
Achar is a result-oriented professional with a robust record in aligning HR strategy with business goals. He has been instrumental in strengthening employee experience and relations to facilitate a cordial work environment across various domains, including manufacturing, BFSI, IT/ ITES, health insurance and healthcare.
Before joining the Apollo Hospitals Group in August 2018, Achar spent almost a decade with Apollo Munich Health Insurance, working out of their Gurgaon office, as ED-CPO. He looked after the Group’s overall HR function and also served as a consultant to the management on people sciences, and was a change agent for his employees.
Having started his professional journey at Arlem Electronics, Achar worked as an engineer – his only non-HR role till date. While working, he managed to complete a PGDBMA in business management from the Goa Institute of Management and an ME in industrial engineering from Goa University.
It was at Indo Gulf Fertilisers, that he entered the HR domain, and stayed put for five years as an assistant manager. After that, Achar worked in multiple organisations, such as Astra Zeneca, First Ring, American Online, Xchanging Technologies, and vKarma.
One fact that stands out, when we trace Achar’s career is that he has lived across the length and breadth of the country and even in the interiors. This new role will require him to relocate yet again, from Chennai to Mumbai.
Along with an engineering degree from Mumbai University, and two post-graduate degrees, he is also a holder of a PhD from Azteca University, Mexico. He has multiple feathers in his hat as a recipient of awards and recognitions, some of which are— HR Achiever of the Year– Zee Business National Human Capital Leadership Awards | 2019 and HR Business Leader of the Year — World HRD Congress | 2019.