S. 'Venky' Venkatesh

Venkatesh runs a unique end-to-end HR Advisory business, and in his consulting life has worked with Chairmen, Board Members and CEOs of large groups- in sectors as diverse as HealthCare, Textiles/Fashion, Auto components, Chemicals, Castings, IT Services, helping design and execute a number of organizational transformational initiatives and HR processes. In these companies, he has also helped hire key CXO level executives, including Group CEO, Group HR Heads, Group CFO and Business Heads.

Venkatesh has a strong, successful track record of driving the HR agenda in aggressive growth environments in multiple sectors. He is amongst a select group of senior HR professionals in the country, who can straddle strategy and execution seamlessly, and has strong M & A experience. Moreover he has established and led HR in groups where 'Change Management', 'Organizational Transformation' and 'Employer Branding' were a way of life, and not just catchy motivational slogans.

Venkatesh has close to 25 years of corporate experience in diverse sectors like FMCG, Telecom, Energy, Textiles/Apparel/Brands & Retail, Metals & Mining and Private Equity.

• President-Human Capital at Helion Advisors Private Limited
  

  Helion is a stage independent, India focused venture capital firm. Working from the Fund's side, Venkatesh advised the firm's 35 portfolio companies across a wide range of human capital issues. At the pre-investment stage he provided HR due diligence support to the firm. This was a unique and one of its kind HR role in the country in the PE/VC space. In this role, he reported into the Founder/MD of the firm.

• Group President-Human Resources at Arvind Ltd
  

  Responsible for the first Group wide HR function across all Arvind businesses, including Fabrics (Ahmedabad), Brands, Retail, Financial Services (Anagram), Engineering and the company's JVs with VF Corporation of US, Diesel of Italy and Tommy Hilfiger. This was the first and only pan-Arvind HR head role in the Group, responsible for close to 30000 employees. He reported into the Chairman of the Group, Mr. Sanjay Lalbhai.

• President-Group Human Resources at Vedanta Resources Plc
  

  Venkatesh was the first Global HR head for this LSE listed & FTSE 100 metals & mining conglomerate. Company's top line then was around USD 6.5 Billion with a global workforce of about 25000 employees. In addition he had corporate oversight over the HR function of Sterlite Technologies. He was Secretary of the Remuneration Committee of the Company's London based Board. In this role he reported into the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Group Mr.Anil Agarwal and Mr.Navin Agarwal.

  Vedanta achieved global scale and size through both organic growth and M & A. During his tenure with the company, Venkatesh was personally involved in integrating the company's acquisition of Balco, Hindustan Zinc and Konkola Copper Mines (Zambia), each company with a then employee base ranging from 6000 to 10000. Today these companies are billion dollar EBITDA businesses.

• Executive Vice President- Group HR at BPL Innovision Business Group
  

  Venkatesh had total responsibility for Group's HR function across the telecom business (BPL Mobile), and the Internet, Broadband, Technology, Radio Indigo businesses. BPL Mobile had the license to operate the Mumbai circle, and the state circles of Maharashtra & Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

• Director-Human Resources(India/Middle East) at PowerGen Plc
  

  PowerGen was a dominant energy player in the UK and a leading IPP across the world. Its revenues then was around USD 5 Billion. He had responsibility for the company's people function across the India and Middle East regions.



• I.T.C. Ltd: Various Positions in HR, starting from Management Pupil(Trainee)
  Venkatesh joined ITC from campus, and worked there for close to 10 years.

Education

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Masters Degree in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations