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About Heidrick & Struggles India

Unlocking Leadership Excellence in India

We bring together the best of both worlds: over 70 years of global experience, and a deep-rooted presence in the Indian market for more than 25 years. As a trusted talent advisor, our executive search and consulting services have been instrumental in our partnership with organizations globally, locally and across all industries. 

Built upon trust and credibility, we are best positioned to help our clients address their talent needs, empowering them to navigate the complex leadership challenges of today's dynamic business landscape in India.

Case studies: Strategic leadership appointments in India for European businesses

Building regional excellence for a European MNC in the industrial sector to drive growth

India’s rising importance in Asia Pacific led a global manufacturer to rethink its leadership strategy. A transformative appointment in India became the catalyst to harmonize regional operations, strengthen resilience, and accelerate growth across diverse markets.

Enabling transformation and growth for a global specialty chemical group

As India became a hub for a global speciality chemical group, the company sought a seasoned leader to steer its next phase of transformation. The appointment was designed to strengthen multifunctional expertise, elevate its market position across Asia and Africa, and unlock new avenues for growth.

Driving leadership transformation for a European automotive-component MNC in India

India’s fast-growing role in the global automotive industry made strong local leadership essential. The appointment of a seasoned managing director in India brought both strategic vision and operational depth to sustain market leadership, deepen OEM partnerships, and accelerate growth.

CEO & Board insights

BOARDS & GOVERNANCE
Building future-ready boards for India’s family-led economy

India’s family-led enterprises are entering a new era of complexity, prompting boards to rethink how they govern, lead, and plan for the future. Future-ready governance will be essential to ensuring continuity and enabling sustainable long-term growth.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
How AI is changing the way CEOs lead large organizations

Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology conversation — it is a leadership one. As AI becomes embedded in decision-making, governance, and risk management, organizations must rethink how they operate at a structural level, and not just experiment at the margins.

CEO SUCCESSION PLANNING
Route to the Top 2025: India snapshot

This snapshot highlights the state of CEO succession planning in India — where progress is being made, why some aren’t moving more intentionally, and other observations.

BOARDS & GOVERNANCE
Board Monitor India 2024: Six ways boards are reshaping their processes to thrive now

Board Monitor India 2024 provides data-driven insights into how boards are responding to these demands. The report highlights six key ways in which Indian boards are reshaping their composition, priorities, and processes to remain agile and effective in today’s complex environment.

Our client interviews

Human Resources Officers

Leadership perspectives: A conversation with Ravi Kyran, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bajaj Auto

Heidrick & Struggles’ Charul Madan and Dhiraj Shetty speak to Bajaj Auto’s CHRO, Ravi Kyran on how CHROs today play a critical role in helping Indian companies thrive on the global stage.
CEO & Board of Directors

Leadership perspectives: A conversation with Ireena Vittal, independent director

Heidrick & Struggles’ Suresh Raina speaks with Ireena Vittal, an independent director currently serving on multiple boards.
Human Resources Officers

Leadership perspectives: An interview with Pallavi Tyagi, executive vice president & group head of people experience design and future of work expertise hub at Capgemini

Capgemini’s Pallavi Tyagi discusses the changing needs of the workforce and how her organization is working to attract, develop, and retain talent.
Industrial Goods & Technology

An interview with Soumitra Bhattacharya, former president of Bosch Group in India and Managing Director at Bosch Ltd.

Soumitra Bhattacharya discusses the Indian manufacturing sector’s embrace of Industry 4.0 and how leaders can manage this confluence of people, data, and technology innovation.

Building leadership for system-level impact

With India’s social development sector entering a more complex phase of growth, leadership capability is emerging as a critical enabler of sustained impact. CEOs and boards must prioritise intentional investment in talent systems, leadership development, and organizational capability to deliver change at scale.

Why first-time CEOs lose momentum – and how to regain it

First-time CEOs often lose early momentum not from inexperience, but from navigating legacy systems and ambiguity — this article shows how deliberate planning, coaching, and strategic action can help them regain traction and lead with impact.

High-performing teams: The power of leadership

Future-ready leaders now must rethink their approach in shaping their teams as needed, focusing on strengthening teamwork to thrive amid uncertainty. Inclusive leadership creates agile, disciplined, collaborative teams.

The CMO role: Getting into the corner office

The role of the Chief Marketing Officer is becoming more multidimensional and demanding than ever. Traditional marketing will no longer drive the same results amid today’s organisational growth needs.

The evolving role of CSCOs

The evolving role of CTOs

The evolving role of CHROs

In the media
Here is what Heidrick & Struggles' India consultants are talking about.
From The Economic Times - Edge Insights

“India is now a leadership hub for APAC private capital, says Ritu Khandelia, Heidrick & Struggles India” (March 2026)
Ritu Khandelia, Partner, Financial Services and Private Equity practices

From The Economic Times

“Global search firms tap India as leadership hub amid AI, IPO and growth boom” (February 2026)
Puneet Pratap Singh, Partner in Charge

From BusinessWorld: People

“What companies need now is agility, not just experience” (February 2026)
Amanda Worthington, Global Managing Partner, Consumer Practice

From The Economic Times - Edge Insights

“Building future-ready organisations through stronger succession pipelines” (November 2025)
Deepti Agarwal, Partner

From The Economic Times - Edge Insights

“Why leadership will take India beyond China plus one” (September 2025)
Suresh Raina, Partner, CEO & Board of Directors Practice

From BusinessWorld

“Report says Indian boards lag in CEO succession despite high awareness” (August 2025) 
Puneet Pratap Singh, Partner-in-Charge, India & Suresh Raina, Partner, CEO & Board of Directors Practice

From The Economic Times - Edge Insights

“India’s industrial sector needs a leadership reset & here’s what it looks like” (July 2025) 
Ajo Joseph, Principal, global Industrial Practice

From CXOToday

“Leadership trends and talent strategies across the industrial and manufacturing sectors in India” (July 2025) 
Ajo Joseph, Principal, global Industrial Practice

From The Economic Times

"Major demand for roles in risk and control, cybersecurity: Heidrick & Struggles CEO" (April 2025)

Tom Monahan, Chief Executive Officer

From Business World: People

"Essential Leadership Skills For CEOs To Navigate Challenges Of 2025 & Beyond" (February 2025)

Ashutosh Khanna, Partner, Consumer Markets Practice