Rakesh Almal

About Rakesh Almal

I am a senior Talent Acquisition leader with 20+ years of experience driving hiring strategy, employer branding, DEI-focused hiring, and workforce planning across global and complex engineering organizations. At ZF Group, a global leader in automotive technology, I lead Talent Acquisition for India, shaping strategies that strengthen our talent pipeline, accelerate business growth, and enhance both the candidate and stakeholder experience.My core focus areas include:• Strategic sourcing & talent intelligence for building future-ready pipelines• Employer branding & market positioning for niche automotive and engineering talent• DEI-driven hiring practices to ensure equitable processes and diverse representation• Leadership hiring across manufacturing, technical, digital, and corporate domains• TA analytics & data-driven decision-making to improve predictability and performance• Capability building for TA teams to drive process maturity and global alignmentI have played a key role in positioning ZF in India as an employer of choice by developing scalable TA frameworks, implementing inclusive hiring practices, and introducing innovative recruitment solutions aligned with our global people strategy. My work also includes partnering with business leaders on DEI initiatives, driving awareness programs, and ensuring our hiring processes support diverse candidate slates across all levels.I am passionate about transforming Talent Acquisition into a strategic business function, developing high-performing teams, and continuously evolving with industry trends and future workforce needs.Keen to engage with leaders, industry partners, and professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of talent, mobility, and technology.

Experience

1. Head of Talent Acquisition- India

   ZF Group

   May 2023 — Present · Hyderabad, IN

   Responsible for leading the end‑to‑end Talent Acquisition strategy for India along with driving Employer Branding and DEI initiatives in the region.Key focus areas:Lead regional TA strategy, workforce planning, and talent pipeline development across divisions.Own Employer Branding programs to position ZF as an employer of choice in the automotive & engineering sectors.Drive DEI initiatives, ensuring inclusive hiring practices, diverse talent pipelines, and alignment with regional DEI goals.Represent in talent forums and build strong industry networks.Support cross‑divisional hiring through internal mobility and active talent pools.Lead global continuous improvement efforts to enhance TA processes, tools, and stakeholder experience.Ensure a KPI‑driven, compliant, and candidate‑centric recruitment process.

Education

• Indian Institute of Management Raipur

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration, Management and Operations

• Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

  Corporate Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Marketing

  2004 — 2006

• XLRI - VIL Programs

  Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, Human Resource

  2013 — 2016

• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

  Certificate Course in Strategic Management

  2020 — 2020

• Calcutta University, Kolkata

  Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), Accounting

  2000 — 2003

• Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

  Certificate Course in Supply Chain Management

  2007 — 2007

Skills

• Recruitments
• Customer Support
• Transition Management
• Screening Resumes
• Screening
• Deferred Compensation
• Customer Relationship Management (Crm)
• Benefits Negotiation
• Talent Acquisition
• Soft Skills
• Student Recruiting
• Training
• Crm
• Job Fairs
• Bpo
• Mis
• Employee Engagement
• Student Recruitment
• College Recruiting
• Recruiting
• Team Management
• Onboarding
• Sourcing
• Outsourcing
• Hris
• Strategic HR
• Service Delivery
• Direct Recruiting
• Business Process Outsourcing (Bpo)
• IT Recruitment
• Hiring Practices
• Strategic Human Resource Planning
• Vendor Management
• Human Resources Information Systems (Hris)
• Performance Appraisal
• Leadership
• Human Resources
• Technical Recruiting
• Campus
• Internet Recruiting