Aru Uppal
Associate Vice President - AVP HR
Pune
Summary
Seasoned leader with over 18 years of experience in business partner roles, adept at aligning HR strategies with organizational goals. Specializing in strategic employee engagement, legal compliance, and enhancing communication initiatives through employer branding. Proven track record in developing and executing successful HR strategies, contributing to global business expansion, and upholding a positive corporate image. Skilled in influencing, interpersonal communication, HR consulting, recruitment, CRM, and people management across diverse geographical locations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4028
4028
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Associate Vice President - AVP HR
Vanderlande - A Toyota Logistics Automation Company
08.2023 - Current
- Aligned HR strategies with business objectives, facilitating organizational growth, talent optimization, and cultural transformation.
- Managed end-to-end people operations, including Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Learning & Development, Compensation & Benefits, and HR Compliance across multi-country operations.
- Advised senior leadership on workforce planning, succession strategies, and organizational design to foster long-term capability building and business continuity.
- Spearheaded talent management initiatives, promoting internal mobility, leadership development programs, and identifying high-potential talent.
- Implemented HR transformation projects, such as digitalization of HR systems, policy standardization, and operating model redesign, resulting in enhanced efficiency and improved employee experience.
- Drove efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and employee engagement, leading to measurable improvement in engagement scores year-over-year.
- Oversaw employee relations and compliance frameworks, ensuring fair practices, grievance redressal, and adherence to local labor laws and global HR policies.
- Managed HR budgets and vendor partnerships, ensuring cost optimization and high-quality delivery across outsourced and in-house HR services.
- Established and mentored high-performing HR teams, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Collaborated with global stakeholders to localize and implement global HR initiatives effectively.
- Drove digital transformation efforts within the organization, leveraging emerging technologies to streamline workflows, improve communication channels, and enhance overall productivity.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making practices to inform business strategy and optimize performance metrics across all departments.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and innovation.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous learning among employees through professional development opportunities, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
- Oversaw talent acquisition efforts, attracting top talent from diverse backgrounds and skill sets while maintaining a rigorous selection process for continued excellence within the organization.
- Championed diversity and inclusion efforts within the organization, successfully implementing policies and programs that promoted equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of background or identity.
VP - HR
Data Dynamics Inc
01.2021 - 08.2023
- Designed and created HR Strategy aligned with business vision.
- Worked closely with senior stakeholders to drive global talent management and fulfill business requirements.
- Implemented and standardized employee life cycle processes and policies across multiple locations.
- Managed global locations , ensuring a positive employee experience.
- Delivered a robust recruitment, onboarding, integration, and retention strategy, resulting in a 20% improvement in employee retention rates.
- Recommended talent sourcing needs and salary modifications to ensure appropriate staffing levels aligned with business needs.
- Identified and developed future leaders through effective succession planning and talent management activities.
- Led career development initiatives including coaching, evaluations, transfers, promotions, retirements, and exits.
Senior Manager Talent Management
Optymyze - ArezzoSky India Pvt Ltd
04.2015 - 01.2021
- Supported the development and execution of HR strategies aligned with business goals by assisting senior HR leaders and business stakeholders.
- Coordinated with global teams to understand and support talent needs, ensuring timely execution of recruitment and talent management activities.
- Helped implement standardized employee lifecycle processes and policies across different locations, ensuring consistency and compliance.
- Assisted in handling employee relations matters, including drafting performance improvement plans and supporting the performance management cycle.
- Contributed to building effective HR operations by supporting data management, process documentation, and HR service delivery across the organization.
- Provided coordination support in organizing performance reviews, training sessions for people managers, and ensuring adherence to promotion guidelines.
- Conducted initial research and analysis for salary benchmarking studies and supported the preparation of recommendations for salary bands and internal equity.
- Played an active role in the onboarding and integration process for new hires, ensuring a smooth employee experience.
- Supported talent review discussions, tracked high-potential employees, and maintained updated succession planning data for leadership review.
HR Specialist
ZS Associates India Pvt Ltd
03.2010 - 03.2015
HR Generalist
Thoughtworks
03.2008 - 03.2010
HR Executive
Xpanxion International
06.2007 - 02.2008
Education
Ph.D/Doctorate - HR/Industrial Relations
Chitkara Institute of Engineering & Technology
MBA - HR
Pune University
B.Sc - Microbiology
Pune University
Skills
- Strategic Business Partnering
- Stakeholder Management
- HR Technology & Analytics
- Employer branding & EVP
Timeline
Associate Vice President - AVP HR
Vanderlande - A Toyota Logistics Automation Company
08.2023 - Current
VP - HR
Data Dynamics Inc
01.2021 - 08.2023
Senior Manager Talent Management
Optymyze - ArezzoSky India Pvt Ltd
04.2015 - 01.2021
HR Specialist
ZS Associates India Pvt Ltd
03.2010 - 03.2015
HR Generalist
Thoughtworks
03.2008 - 03.2010
HR Executive
Xpanxion International
06.2007 - 02.2008
B.Sc - Microbiology
Pune University
Ph.D/Doctorate - HR/Industrial Relations
Chitkara Institute of Engineering & Technology
MBA - HR
Pune University
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