Parle Products has appointed Vinayak Deshpande as Chief Human Resources Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience across Amazon, Kerry, GSK, Glenmark, PepsiCo and ACC. With global and cross-sector expertise, he will lead talent strategy, workforce planning and cultural development as Parle scales operations and builds stronger human-capital capabilities for its next phase of growth.
Parle Products Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s most enduring and widely recognised FMCG companies, has announced the appointment of Vinayak Deshpande as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), marking a significant addition to its leadership team at a time when the company is rapidly scaling its operations and modernising its organisational capabilities. The appointment signals Parle’s intention to strengthen its human-resources strategy with a seasoned professional who has navigated diverse business environments across India, Europe and global markets. As the company continues to expand its footprint in the packaged foods sector, Deshpande’s role is expected to be central to shaping a future-ready workforce and fostering a people-first culture within one of the country’s largest consumer brands.
With over two decades of experience in human resources across multiple industries, Deshpande brings with him a rich blend of global exposure, strategic vision and hands-on operational expertise. His most recent tenure at Amazon saw him serve as Head – Human Resources for the UK and Europe, a high-impact role that demanded alignment between global business objectives and talent strategies across complex, multicultural teams. His responsibilities included organisational design, leadership development, employee engagement and navigating the shifting dynamics of workforce expectations in one of the world’s most competitive corporate environments. Prior to this, his earlier assignments at Amazon involved leading HR functions in India, giving him a strong cross-market understanding of how workforce behaviours and business needs vary across regions.
Deshpande’s professional journey began long before his stint at Amazon. Over the years, he has held senior HR roles at organisations such as Kerry, GSK, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, PepsiCo and ACC Limited—companies that span sectors from pharmaceuticals and food ingredients to consumer goods and cement manufacturing. This cross-sector experience has helped him develop a holistic view of talent management, industrial relations, organisational development, cultural transformation and the evolving nature of the Indian workforce. His academic foundation, including an MBA in Human Resources from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, complements his diverse industry background and equips him with formal insights into people management and HR strategy.
Deshpande’s appointment at Parle comes at a pivotal moment for the company. Known for household staples like Parle-G, Monaco, KrackJack and a wide range of confectionery and snacks, Parle Products has been a dominant presence in India’s consumer market for decades. As the company continues to evolve with changing consumer behaviour, increased competition, digital shifts in retail and a broader focus on manufacturing agility, strengthening its human-capital capabilities has become a strategic priority. The role of CHRO is not limited to traditional HR responsibilities but extends to driving organisational transformation, nurturing leadership pipelines and creating an environment that supports innovation, agility and long-term growth.
In his new role, Deshpande will lead Parle’s HR strategy across key pillars such as talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, employee engagement and building a sustainable organisational culture. One of his immediate responsibilities will involve ensuring that Parle’s growing workforce remains aligned with the company’s evolving ambitions in both domestic and global markets. As Parle expands into new product categories, modernises its supply chain and adapts to digital disruptions in the FMCG sector, the need for a cohesive and future-ready workforce becomes more pronounced. Deshpande’s global experience is expected to play a crucial role in helping the company navigate these transitions with strategic clarity and operational discipline.
Additionally, Parle’s vast manufacturing presence across India demands strong HR leadership with a deep understanding of workforce dynamics at the plant level. Managing talent across diverse geographies, maintaining labour relations, ensuring compliance and strengthening productivity are critical components of the company’s day-to-day operational success. Given Deshpande’s experience in companies with extensive manufacturing portfolios, he is well-positioned to bring nuanced insights into workforce engagement and performance optimisation at scale.
His leadership is also expected to strengthen Parle’s emphasis on employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, and nurturing the next generation of talent. With the FMCG industry increasingly relying on data-driven decision-making, automation and cross-functional workflows, HR leaders are now expected to champion digital adoption and cultivate continuous learning cultures. Deshpande’s background in global organisations that prioritise digital transformation and agile talent systems will greatly benefit Parle as it adapts to shifting industry paradigms.
For Parle, the leadership addition marks an investment in long-term organisational strength. The company has consistently evolved, from being a legacy brand known for its affordability and mass appeal to a modern FMCG player with diversified offerings and contemporary marketing strategies. As consumer expectations rise and the FMCG landscape grows more competitive, internal capabilities—particularly human capital—play a defining role in determining how effectively a company responds to change. With Deshpande leading the HR function, Parle signals its intention to deepen its focus on people, culture and internal resilience as key components of its business strategy.
Industry observers note that leadership changes of this nature often reflect broader shifts within organisations. As Parle prepares for the next phase of its growth journey, the integration of an HR leader with extensive global exposure indicates that the company is prioritising not just operational efficiency but also strategic alignment between its business ambitions and workforce capabilities. Deshpande’s experience in navigating complex organisational structures and driving cultural transformation is likely to provide Parle with fresh perspectives on leadership, employee engagement and talent development.
For Deshpande himself, the move represents a return to India’s dynamic FMCG environment, where scale, diversity and operational intensity create both challenges and opportunities for HR leaders. In steering Parle’s human-resources strategy, he will be working with one of the most recognised brands in the country—one that has remained deeply rooted in Indian households for nearly a century. His role gives him the opportunity to shape not just policies and systems but also the lived experiences of thousands of employees who contribute to Parle’s continued success.
As Parle continues to strengthen its leadership team and build robust internal frameworks, the appointment of Vinayak Deshpande as CHRO reinforces the company’s commitment to organisational excellence and strategic human-capital development. With his extensive background, global mindset and strong grounding in HR fundamentals, Deshpande is poised to help Parle navigate its next chapter with a workforce equipped for growth, adaptability and long-term sustainability.
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