CHINMAY SHARMA TAKES THE HELM AS CHRO AT DIAGEO INDIA

Chinmay Sharma has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer at DIAGEO India, bringing extensive global experience from GSK, Philip Morris International and Procter & Gamble. His appointment signals a sharper focus on people strategy, organisational transformation and leadership development within the beverages major’s India operations.

Chinmay Sharma has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer at , a move that reinforces the company’s leadership bench at a time when talent strategy is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of business growth. The appointment underlines the organisation’s recognition that culture, capability and people development are central to sustaining competitive advantage in a dynamic consumer market.

Sharma joins the beverages major with a formidable track record across some of the world’s most respected multinational corporations. His career spans leadership roles at , and , where he has led complex HR mandates across geographies. Over the years, he has been at the forefront of large-scale human resources transformations, shaping global talent strategies and enabling business performance in highly regulated and competitive sectors.

At a time when companies are recalibrating workforce models and investing in leadership depth, Sharma’s appointment signals DIAGEO India’s intent to sharpen its people agenda. His experience in driving organisational redesign and building agile talent pipelines is expected to play a pivotal role in aligning the company’s workforce strategy with its growth ambitions.

Much of Sharma’s career has been defined by his ability to operate in intricate operating environments. From managing unionised workforces to steering HR strategy for publicly listed corporations, he has navigated diverse stakeholder expectations while maintaining a strong focus on culture and performance. His exposure to multi-market operations further equips him to address the evolving needs of a large, geographically spread workforce.

Industry observers note that the role of Chief Human Resources Officer has evolved significantly in recent years. Once confined largely to policy and administration, the function now plays a strategic role in shaping business outcomes. At DIAGEO India, Sharma is expected to work closely with the executive leadership team to foster organisational resilience, strengthen leadership capability and embed a culture aligned with long-term strategic goals.

His mandate is likely to include enhancing employee engagement frameworks, strengthening succession planning and deepening diversity and inclusion initiatives. With competition for skilled talent intensifying across sectors, building a compelling employer proposition remains a priority for large corporations seeking sustained growth.

Sharma’s academic credentials complement his professional journey. He is an alumnus of and the , combining global academic exposure with a strong grounding in management and human resource development. This blend of international perspective and local insight is expected to serve him well in steering the people strategy of a major Indian operation within a global enterprise.

His appointment comes at a time when businesses across sectors are grappling with the twin challenges of digital transformation and shifting workforce expectations. Employees increasingly seek purpose-driven workplaces, flexibility and opportunities for growth. For companies such as DIAGEO India, aligning these aspirations with commercial objectives requires a nuanced and forward-looking HR approach.

By bringing in a leader with cross-industry expertise and transformation experience, DIAGEO India appears poised to strengthen its organisational architecture for the next phase of growth. As Sharma steps into the role, the emphasis will likely be on building a culture that not only drives performance but also fosters inclusion, innovation and long-term sustainability.