Viekas K Khokha Joins Sharda Motor Industries As SVP & CHRO

Viekas K Khokha has been appointed as the senior vice president (SVP) and chief human resources officer (CHRO) of Sharda Motor Industries Limited (SMIL), effective 1 December 2023.

Prior to his new role, Khokha served as the Head of HR function of Dhanuka Agritech from September 2020 till November 2023. He was responsible for spearheading the people and talent agenda across market commercial operations, innovation, R&D, corporate business services and factories at Dhanuka Agritech India. The journey was successfully led by transforming the critical HR processes like performance management and talent management and re-designing most of the critical policies in line with the changing landscape of the agri-input Industry.

At SMIL, Khokha's role entails establishing an HR organisation to oversee nine manufacturing units, R&D, and sales operations for both domestic and international business. Subsequently, the focus will shift towards implementing technology solutions to streamline processes, enhance automation and explore outsourcing opportunities.

Speaking exclusively with BW People, Khokha stated, "I am thrilled about my position at SMIL, as I envision being an integral part of the company's growth journey. Through the implementation of impactful Human Resources policies, processes, and practices, I aim to contribute significant value to all stakeholders involved."

He is an expert in developing leaders, driving innovation, building collaborations and high-performing teams, developing competency learning models and workplace culture management.

"SMIL is making a robust presence in the Automotive equipment industry, both in India and international markets, showcasing a remarkable growth trajectory in the last two quarters of this year. The company sought an HR leader with a proven track record in both line functions and overseeing significant transformation projects within HR. Given my extensive experience spanning industries such as telecommunications, healthcare and chemicals, particularly in the realm of talent landscape transformation, I am enthusiastic about joining SMIL on its dynamic journey,” he added further.

With an experience spanning across more than two decades, Khokha has served several organisations with diverse industries in the HR space including Dhanuka Agritech, Upgrad, Zimmer Biomet, Bharti Airtel and Ascom.