Gunjan Desai

Head of Talent

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India22 yrs 6 mos experience

Key Highlights

  • 24+ years of global HR leadership experience.
  • Drove HR transformation across multiple sectors.
  • Expert in data-driven HR strategies and analytics.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic HR leader with extensive experience in transforming HR functions across diverse industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Hr TransformationStrategic Hr LeadershipHr AnalyticsTalent RetentionGlobal Hr StrategyEvp DevelopmentHr Digital TransformationWorkforce PlanningGroup Hr StrategyEmployee EngagementHr OperationsStatutory ComplianceExecutive SearchClient Partnership

Other Skills

Business DevelopmentBusiness StrategyClient Partnership DevelopmentCoE DevelopmentCompensation & Benefits StrategyCompetitive AnalysisCompliance & GovernanceCompliance ExcellenceCross-Cultural HRCross-functional Team LeadershipEmployee Benefits DesignEmployee Engagement & ExperienceEmployee Engagement & RelationsEmployee RelationsEnd-to-End Recruitment

About

🌍 Global HR Leader | People & Culture Architect | 24+ yrs across India, UAE, UK & APACI believe HR is not just about policies — it’s about building ecosystems where people thrive and businesses grow faster.Over the past two decades, I’ve led HR transformation across E-commerce, EdTech, and Consulting sectors — blending strategy, technology, and culture to create measurable business outcomes.💡 My Journey in a Snapshot:24+ years of leadership across multi-country HRBP & HR CoE roles (India, UAE, UK, APAC)Partnered with CXOs to transform HR operations into strategic business enablersDrove people analytics, digitization, and culture shifts that cut attrition by 3% and reduced hiring costs by 12%Designed scalable HR frameworks for 9,000+ global headcountInfluenced C-suite decisions through data-backed people insights🧭 What I’m Passionate AboutPeople & Culture Transformation: Creating inclusive, high-trust workplaces that align purpose with performanceLeadership & Capability Building: Designing KRA/KPI systems, DEI initiatives, and succession pipelinesHR Tech & Analytics: Using tools like PeopleSoft, Orbit, and CIPHR to make data a decision engineGlobal Workforce Strategy: Bridging geographies and cultures while ensuring compliance and consistency🌟 Thought Leadership🎤 Invited Speaker – GCC HR Forum on Building Talent Strategy in Regulated Environments💬 Panelist – Women in HR Leadership Circle on Breaking Bias & Building Boards📝 Contributor – LinkedIn HR Pulse, with 5K+ reads on Attrition Science & HR Automation Trends🚀 How I Help OrganizationsWhen you bring me onboard, you get a strategic HR partner who helps your leadership team:Build agile people systems that scale globallyAlign HR strategy with P&L performanceStrengthen EVP and retention through evidence-based frameworksCreate a culture that retains top talent and attracts high performers📬 Let’s ConnectI’m currently open to global opportunities as Director HR / CHRO / Head – People & Culture with organizations seeking to scale sustainably.📧 gunjanapoc@gmail.com

Experience

Deven choksey

Head of HR ( Human Resources ) ● People & Culture ● Employee Engagement ● Employee Relations

Apr 2025Jun 2025 · 2 mos · Mumbai · On-site

  • Transformed HR into a strategic profit enabler for a 9,000+ global BFSI workforce spanning India, UAE, and UK.
  • Key Responsibilities
  • · Led HR strategy, transformation, and governance aligned to business profitability.
  • · Built a KRA/KPI-driven performance system linked to CXO goals for complete transparency.
  • Overhauled policies, ensuring 100% compliance across PF, ESI, POSH.
  • Impact Created
  • · Improved goal visibility by 100% and time-to-hire by 25%.
  • · Reduced voluntary exits in key roles by 18%.
  • · Elevated employee satisfaction scores by 12% YoY.
  • · Positioned HR as a strategic business driver across geographies.
  • Core Competencies
  • HR Transformation | Strategic HR Leadership | Workforce Analytics | Performance Management | HR Governance
HR TransformationStrategic HR LeadershipWorkforce AnalyticsPerformance ManagementHR Governance

Lumina datamatics

HR - DGM ● People & Culture ● Employee Engagement ● Employee Relations ● Senior HRBP

Nov 2022Mar 2025 · 2 yrs 4 mos · Mumbai · On-site

  • Leveraging analytics and automation to make HR more intelligent, efficient, and outcome-driven.
  • Key Responsibilities
  • Introduced attrition risk analytics (EWS) to proactively manage talent retention.
  • Hired more than 450 candidates annually
  • Drove DEI initiatives and leadership capability programs to strengthen culture.
  • Mentored 14 HRBPs across India & Philippines to embed data-driven decision making.
  • Created 48-hour grievance-closure SLA for employee issues.
  • Impact Created
  • Cut key-function attrition by 15%.
  • Increased engagement index by 15%.
  • Reduced HR costs by 12% and achieved 99.8% payroll accuracy.
  • Earned CXO recognition for analytics-led insights in workforce planning.
  • Core Competencies
  • HR Analytics | CoE Development | Compliance & Governance | Talent Acquistion | Talent Retention | Performance Systems
HR AnalyticsCoE DevelopmentCompliance & GovernanceTalent AcquisitionTalent RetentionPerformance Systems

Kido

Head HR ● People & Culture ● Employee Engagement ● Strategic HR Business Partner ● Recruitment

Oct 2020Sep 2022 · 1 yr 11 mos · Mumbai · On-site

  • Building a scalable HR ecosystem for global education growth across India & UAE.
  • Key Responsibilities
  • Directed HRBP and talent strategy for Asia operations (India & UAE).
  • Created Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to strengthen attraction and engagement.
  • Harmonized global pay, grading, and benefits across six regions.
  • Impact Created
  • Boosted offer acceptance by 18%.
  • Maintained zero compliance exceptions across all HR audits.
  • Smooth inauguration of new schools/centers
  • Core Competencies
  • Global HR Strategy | EVP Development | Talent Management | Cross-Cultural HR | Compliance Excellence
Global HR StrategyEVP DevelopmentTalent ManagementCross-Cultural HRCompliance Excellence

Mk printpack pvt ltd

HR DGM ● Head – People & Culture ● HRBP ● Employee Engagement Leader ● Business HR

Oct 2018Apr 2019 · 6 mos · Mumbai Area, India · On-site

  • 💼 Led HR transformation across 4 units and 1000+ employees—delivering ₹25 Lakhs in annual savings through HR digitization and stronger workforce planning.
  • Role Summary:
  • As the Head of HR, I led the end-to-end people strategy across MK Printpack’s Head Office and 3 manufacturing plants in Haridwar, Daman, and Motaponda. My role involved driving HR strategy in sync with business goals—covering workforce planning, talent development, performance management, and employee relations. I ensured alignment with the company’s mission, values, and long-term vision.
  • I managed both strategic and operational HR functions, from recruitment to payroll to compliance, creating a unified people ecosystem across geographies.
  • Business Impact:
  • Introduced “Spine” payroll software, cutting manual processing errors and achieving major cost savings. Built a competency framework that improved succession planning and capability development. Designed and implemented a company-wide engagement and learning initiative that improved retention and collaboration between corporate and factory teams.
  • Core Competencies:
  • People & Culture Leadership
  • HR Digital Transformation
  • Workforce Planning & Budgeting
  • Talent Management & Capability Building
  • Employee Engagement & Relations
  • HRBP for Multi-Location Units
  • Policy Framework & Governance
People & Culture LeadershipHR Digital TransformationWorkforce Planning & BudgetingTalent Management & Capability BuildingEmployee Engagement & RelationsWorkforce Planning

Stic travel group

Senior Manager – HR ● Strategic HR Business Partner ● People & Culture ● HRBP

Jul 2016Jul 2018 · 2 yrs · Gurugram · On-site

  • ✈️ Rebuilt HR structure across 12 locations—boosting employee engagement scores by 35% and stabilizing attrition through strategic HR partnerships.
  • Role Summary:
  • As the Group Head – HR, I acted as a strategic HR Business Partner for the entire STIC Travel Group, managing a diverse workforce across multiple business lines and geographies. My focus was to align human capital practices with business growth, ensuring optimal resource utilization, policy standardization, and employee satisfaction.
  • I partnered closely with the leadership team to design HR policies, compliance frameworks, and engagement initiatives that elevated the overall employee experience.
  • Business Impact:
  • Implemented a uniform employee engagement calendar across all branches, fostering team spirit and reducing attrition by 20%. Developed and rolled out new HR policies and compliance systems that simplified audits and standardized HR operations. Improved collaboration between departments by implementing a transparent communication framework and grievance redressal mechanism.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Group HR Strategy & Business Partnering
  • Policy Design & Implementation
  • Multi-location HR Operations
  • Employee Engagement & Experience
  • Performance Management Systems
  • Statutory Compliance & HR Governance
  • Leadership Coaching & Talent Retention
Group HR Strategy & Business PartneringPolicy Design & ImplementationMulti-location HR OperationsEmployee Engagement & ExperiencePerformance Management SystemsGroup HR Strategy+1

Max new york life insurance co. limited( head office , gurgaon))

Senior Manager – HR Operations ● HRBP ● Compensation & Benefits ● Payroll

Jun 2015Jul 2016 · 1 yr 1 mo · Gurugram · On-site

  • 🏆 Ensured flawless payroll and HR operations for 9000+ employees across 230 locations—achieving 100% compliance and zero audit deviations.
  • Role Summary:
  • At Max Life Insurance, I led HR Operations across India, ensuring complete accuracy in payroll, benefits, compliance, and employee data management. My role focused on operational excellence, cost efficiency, and employee trust through transparent processes.
  • I ensured compliance with statutory norms such as PF, ESI, LWF, and Income Tax while managing the Flexible Benefits Plan (FBP) and full-and-final settlements seamlessly across regions.
  • Business Impact:
  • Delivered a zero-error payroll record for 12 consecutive months. Automated F&F and FBP cycles, improving processing time by 40%. Enhanced HR compliance readiness and standardized data management, ensuring seamless audits and improved employee satisfaction.
  • Core Competencies:
  • HR Operations & Payroll Management
  • Statutory Compliance & Audits
  • Compensation & Benefits Strategy
  • Process Automation & Digital HR
  • HR Governance & Risk Mitigation
  • Employee Communication & Trust Building
  • Multi-branch Coordination
HR Operations & Payroll ManagementStatutory Compliance & AuditsCompensation & Benefits StrategyProcess Automation & Digital HRHR Governance & Risk MitigationHR Operations+1

Frontahead hr solutions

Senior Manager – HR ● Head HR ● HRBP ● People & Culture ● Business HR ● Payroll

Nov 2010Mar 2015 · 4 yrs 4 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

  • Established the company’s HR Management process from scratch, defined the overall organizational structure, defined the manpower requirements, and ensured that the same is acquired within the defined budget
  • Played a key role as a Business HR Partner for PAN India and spearheaded the entire HR operations
  • Directed a talent acquisition team of 10 members to meet the targets of the recruitment business
  • Introduced, Structured & implemented:
  • o Training, contract staffing, and payroll processing for client companies
  • o Outplacement for 100+ employees from a pharma company
  • o HR outsourcing and Organization restructuring for client organizations
  • o Company policies along with making motivational incentive structures
  • o Assisted in setting up the culture of the company and developing various strategies
Executive Search & HeadhuntingClient Partnership DevelopmentIndustry Mapping & Market ResearchEnd-to-End RecruitmentExecutive SearchClient Partnership

Netambit infosource & e-services pvt. ltd.

Chief Manager – HR | Regional Head HR (West) | Employee Engagement & Talent Acquisition Partner

May 2009Oct 2010 · 1 yr 5 mos · Mumbai · On-site

  • 📈 Scaled workforce from 2 to 650+ employees in 16 months—transforming HR into a growth engine for business expansion.
  • Role Summary:
  • As Regional Head – HR for the Western Zone, I played a key role in building and scaling a fast-growing sales and service organization. I managed end-to-end HR operations—from talent acquisition to retention—ensuring alignment with aggressive business goals.
  • Business Impact:
  • Implemented strategic hiring campaigns that accelerated growth while maintaining quality of hire. Designed engagement programs that reduced attrition by 25% and improved productivity by 30%. Built a dynamic culture that supported performance and career advancement.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Rapid Talent Scaling & Onboarding
  • Performance & Productivity Improvement
  • HR Operations & Process Setup
  • Employee Engagement & Retention
  • Regional Leadership & Team Management
  • Business Partnering for Growth

Essar engineering services ltd

Human Resources Manager | HRBP | Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning | HR Analytics

Sep 2008Apr 2009 · 7 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

  • ⚙️ Led workforce planning for nationwide projects—driving faster project delivery through smarter hiring and analytics.
  • Role Summary:
  • As Manager – HR, I managed end-to-end hiring, talent pipeline management, and attrition analysis across engineering projects. My analytical approach to attrition helped identify core pain areas and improve employee retention rates.
  • Business Impact:
  • Enabled faster staffing turnaround for key projects. Improved workforce productivity through detailed manpower planning and hiring process optimization.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
  • HR Analytics & Attrition Management
  • Employee Lifecycle Management
  • Policy Implementation & Governance

Bp-ergo limited v.i.p industries

HR - Deputy Manager | Recruitment & Training | People & Culture | PMS | HR Analytics

May 2007Sep 2008 · 1 yr 4 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

  • 🔧 Streamlined recruitment and training programs—aligning 100+ hires with core business objectives and boosting performance.
  • Role Summary:
  • As Deputy Manager – HR, I optimized recruitment and training systems, introducing performance-based evaluations and career development plans to enhance workforce productivity.
  • Business Impact:
  • Helped reduce new hire attrition by 22% through targeted training programs. Built a structured appraisal system that strengthened accountability.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Recruitment & Training Optimization
  • Performance Management System
  • Employee Development & Retention
  • HR Policy & Compliance

Adecco

Senior Recruitment Consultant ● Hiring Strategy ● Recruiter ● Head Hunting ● Staffing Partner

Sep 2005May 2007 · 1 yr 8 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

  • 🤝 Revived dormant client accounts—achieving 35% growth in recruitment revenue within one year.
  • Role Summary:
  • At Adecco, I handled corporate recruitment mandates across industries, driving both client relationships and hiring delivery. My consultative approach helped clients improve time-to-hire and quality-of-hire metrics.
  • Business Impact:
  • Reactivated dormant clients, added 15+ new accounts, and contributed to a 35% revenue increase. Consistently delivered top-tier candidates that met client expectations.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Recruitment Consulting & Delivery
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Business Development & Account Growth
  • Hiring Strategy & Process Excellence

Hr dimension

Recruitment Specialist ● Hiring ● Recruiter IT & NON IT ● Talent Acquisition ● HR

Jun 2003Sep 2005 · 2 yrs 3 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

  • 🎯 Placed 150+ senior professionals across manufacturing & consulting sectors—building trusted long-term client partnerships.
  • Role Summary:
  • As a recruitment consultant, I specialized in headhunting and executive search, identifying niche talent for mid to senior-level roles. I built strong networks that fueled repeat business and referrals.
  • Business Impact:
  • Delivered consistent hiring success across critical functions. Strengthened client confidence by maintaining a 90% position fill rate.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Executive Search & Headhunting
  • Client Partnership Development
  • Industry Mapping & Market Research
  • End-to-End Recruitment

Country club hospitality & holidays limited

Client Services Representative

May 2000Jun 2003 · 3 yrs 1 mo · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

  • 📞 Drove a 40% rise in membership sales through innovative outreach and high-energy client engagement programs.
  • Role Summary:
  • As a team leader, I managed telemarketing operations, campaign planning, and membership acquisition. I trained and motivated the sales team to exceed targets and enhance customer relationships.
  • Business Impact:
  • Achieved consistent sales growth through improved conversion strategies and relationship-building. Built a motivated sales culture focused on customer satisfaction and long-term engagement.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Sales Leadership & Team Motivation
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Campaign Planning & Execution
  • Lead Conversion & Retention

Education

XLRI Jamshedpur

Executive Development Program in Human Resource Management

Jan 2018Jan 2019

University of Mumbai

MBA — Sales&Mktg and Finance

Jan 1998Jan 2000

Bhavan's AH Wadia High School

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) — Commerce

Jan 1992Jan 1997

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