Groupe SEB, home appliances company and owner of iconic Indian brand Maharaja Whiteline, has announced the appointment of Saurabh Katyal as the new Head of Human Resources for its India operations. The appointment is effective immediately.

Katyal officially announced the new role on a LinkedIn post, stating, "I am excited to share that I am beginning a new role as Head HR India at Groupe SEB India! Thank you, Aliaa El-Sherif and Ashish Kakkar, for this chance. I'm looking forward to continuing the growth of this organization."

With more than 18 years of varied HR experience, Katyal comes to Groupe SEB from food, pet, and animal nutrition business company ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), where he was Head-HR India. At ADM, he was a member of the APAC HR leadership team, guiding end-to-end HR operations, such as Employee Relations (ER) and Industrial Relations (IR), along with supporting the region's strategic initiatives.

During his career, Katyal has worked in leadership positions across some of the top organisations like Bata India, GSK Consumer Healthcare, and Airtel. He graduated with an MBA in Human Resources from the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development.

Groupe SEB made its foray into the Indian market in 2011 by buying 55% of Maharaja Whiteline from its promoter, Harish Kumar. The France-based multinational acquired the remaining 45% stake in 2014 to gain complete control. Maharaja Whiteline, established in 1976, is a household brand in India, especially in northern and western areas, with a multitude of small domestic appliances like mixer grinders, food processors, juicers, air coolers, and room heaters.

With annual revenues over Rs 35,000 crore worldwide, Groupe SEB is reinforcing its India presence and senior management team to capitalize on the country's burgeoning home appliances market. The appointment of Katyal is being viewed as a strategic initiative to enhance HR strengths and foster people-driven growth in this key market.