Saud Usmani

About Saud Usmani

I work as an HR leader who partners closely with business leaders to shape strategy, redesign organisations, and build cultures that can adapt as the business evolves.At HT Audio (Fever FM), I have worked alongside leadership during a period of transition, supporting the shift from a traditional radio-led model to a more digital-first, solutions-oriented content business. My focus has been on aligning talent, structures, and ways of working with the direction the business was taking.I have partnered with leadership to drive capability shifts, reduce silos, and move towards leaner, flatter structures—building efficiency through role and capability design rather than indiscriminate headcount reduction. More recently, I have been involved in shaping how AI is introduced across content and creative teams, with a focus on how it will change work and productivity over time.Alongside HR, I remain involved in growth and content initiatives, including future business models and podcast strategy. I am also a practising content creator myself, hosting an Urdu radio show, which helps me stay grounded in the realities of creative work.I believe HR adds the most value when it operates as a true business partner—helping organisations evolve their people, structures, and culture in step with strategy.

Experience

1. HR Head Radio & Audio Business (Fever Fm, Radio One, Radio Nasha)

   Hindustan Times

   Oct 2022 — Present · Delhi, IN

   Partnering closely with business leadership to support the transformation of a traditional radio-led organisation into a digital-first, solutions-oriented audio and content business. My role spans people strategy, organisation design, capability building, and culture—anchored in the evolving needs of the business.Key areas of work include- Acting as a strategic business partner to the leadership team, aligning people strategy with shifts in business model, content strategy, and go-to-market approach- Driving capability transformation to support the move from traditional radio roles to contemporary, multi-skilled content creation and solutioning teams- Enabling new ways of working by redesigning roles, reducing silos, and fostering shared ownership across content, programming, and commercial teams- Partnering with leadership to move towards leaner, flatter organisational structures aligned to digital-first and solutions-led priorities, while delivering cost efficiency through thoughtful role and talent redesign- Championing a philosophy of efficiency driven by structural and capability shifts, rather than indiscriminate headcount reduction- Leading the early adoption of AI across content and creative teams, with a focus on its impact on workflows, skills, and productivity- Contributing beyond HR to growth and future-facing initiatives, including new business models, content partnerships, and podcast content strategy

Education

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences

  M.A (HRM & LR), Human Resource Management & Labor Relations

  2007 — 2009