Anthony Kiran

About Anthony Kiran

CHRO & Certified Independent Director with 18+ years leading people strategy, governance, and transformation across manufacturing, technology, and defence sectors—impacting employees globally.Career Highlights:→ Reduced attrition from 40% to <8% through strategic engagement redesign→ Cut time-to-fill by 64%(132 to 48 days) while improving hire quality by 57%→ Delivered $1.2M in annual savings through HR systems transformation→ Recognized as ET 40 Under 40 and India\'s Best HR HeadCurrently leading people strategy and governance for employees across 8 locations at Astra Microwave Products Limited, partnering with the Board and MD on leadership succession, culture transformation, and regulatory compliance in the defence & aerospace sector.My Journey: From Execution to OversightMy career spans senior HR leadership at Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Indus Towers—partnering closely with Boards on governance frameworks, executive compensation, and organizational culture. This foundation shaped my natural transition to independent oversight, where structured challenge, ethical judgment, and long-term value creation are central.Harvard Executive Education deepened my perspective on enterprise risk and institutional responsibility—enabling me to integrate global governance principles with the realities of Indian corporate and promoter-led environments.What I Bring to Boards: Independence of thought with data-backed reasoning Experience across performance governance, policy architecture, and crisis management A balanced lens combining strategic intent, people governance, and risk awareness Readiness for Audit, NRC, Risk, ESG, and People & Culture committeesBeyond Governance: AdvocacyI am a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion, particularly for individuals on the autism spectrum. I believe in speaking for the unspoken—ensuring that leadership decisions are inclusive, empathetic, and grounded in dignity. This perspective deeply informs my approach to ethical leadership and long-term societal impact.Let\'s connect: k••••••••@outlook.com

Experience

1. Group Head Human Resources

   Astra Microwave Products Limited

   Oct 2024 — Present · Hyderabad, IN

   I lead the people, governance, and institutional effectiveness agenda for Astra Microwave Products Limited, partnering closely with the Managing Director, Board, and senior leadership to strengthen organizational capability, governance discipline, and long-term sustainability.My role spans enterprise-level people strategy, governance frameworks, leadership succession, performance management, and culture stewardship, aligned to the company’s growth ambitions and regulatory context as a leading organization in the defence and aerospace ecosystem.Key areas of contribution include- Partnering with leadership on governance-aligned people strategy, succession planning, and leadership capability building- strengthening performance governance frameworks, role clarity, and accountability mechanisms across business units- Supporting the Board and leadership on risk-aware workforce planning, compliance, and institutional resilience- Leading culture and values alignment initiatives to reinforce ethical leadership, discipline, and trust- Overseeing critical transformation initiatives during periods of scale, operational complexity, and heightened regulatory scrutinyMy approach emphasizes independent judgment, structured decision-making, data-backed insights, and constructive challenge, while maintaining strong alignment with organizational purpose, stakeholder expectations, and long-term value creation.

Education

• Loyola College

  B.Sc., Statistics

  2001 — 2004

• Loyola College

  M.Sc., Statistics

  2004 — 2006

• Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs

  Certified Independent Director, Corporate Governance

• Harvard Business School Executive Education

  Senior Executive Leadership Program, Business Administration and Management, General

• Chennai Business School

  Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

  2007

Skills

• Performance Appraisal
• Onboarding
• Policy
• Exit Interviews
• Leadership
• Vendor Management
• Compensation & Benefits
• Change Management
• Employee Relations
• Talent Acquisition
• Soft Skills
• Global Talent Acquisition
• Human Resources
• Personnel Management
• Salary
• Talent Management
• Competency Management
• Competency Mapping
• Mis
• Employee Engagement
• Recruiting
• Hris
• HR Policies
• Strategic HR
• Organizational Development
• Employer Branding
• Screening
• Benchmarking
• Deferred Compensation
• Management
• Performance Management
• Employment Law
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Workforce Planning
• Training
• Headhunt
• Resource Management
• Strategy
• Succession Planning
• Technical Recruiting