New Delhi: Knauf India, part of the global leader in drywall and ceiling solutions, has announced the appointment of Pallavi Poddar as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The strategic leadership move comes as the company continues to scale operations and strengthen its position in India’s building materials sector.
In her new role, Pallavi will lead the human resources function for Knauf India, focusing on enhancing organisational capability, advancing people practices, and fostering a high-performance culture aligned with the company’s global standards.
Pallavi brings over two decades of experience across industries, with expertise in talent strategy, organisational development, and HR transformation. She has worked across multinational environments, leading initiatives that support both business growth and workforce development.
Prior to joining Knauf India, she served as CHRO at Fenesta Windows, where she led talent strategy. Her career also includes leadership roles at Ingersoll Rand as Regional HR Director for India, Middle East, and Africa, as well as stints at Schneider Electric and Nestlé.
An alumna of Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pallavi holds an MBA and is widely recognised for driving business impact through people-centric strategies.
Sumit Bidani, CEO of Knauf India, shared his confidence in the appointment, stating, “As we continue to expand our presence in India, building strong teams and a clear people strategy remains a priority. Pallavi brings a balanced and thoughtful approach to people and organisation building. Her experience will be important as we continue to strengthen our teams and support the company’s growth journey.”
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Pallavi Poddar said, “I’m grateful to begin this new chapter with Knauf India. Every transition brings with it learning, reflection, and renewed energy, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the next phase of the company’s journey. I’m excited to work closely with teams across the organisation to build a strong, collaborative environment and create meaningful impact together.”
