AI image A majority of executive-level appointments in India’s manufacturing sector over the past year were external hires, reflecting companies’ preference to bring in fresh leadership rather than promote from within, a report by CIEL HR Services revealed.The analysis, based on a combination of publicly available sources including professional networking platforms, press releases and verified databases, found that nearly 62 per cent of senior hires in the manufacturing sector were external appointments over the past 12 months.Leadership churn was most pronounced at the top, with almost half (47 per cent) of all tracked movements occurring at the CEO, MD, or President level, signalling that boards are actively rethinking leadership for the future. “When nearly half of leadership moves are happening at the CEO and MD level, it tells us something profound. Manufacturing firms are not shying away from tough choices at the very top. Leadership today is being seen less as a position of stability and more as a lever of transformation,” CIEL HR Services Group CEO Aditya Mishra said, as quoted by news agency PTI.The automotive and auto components sector emerged as the most active segment, accounting for 35 per cent of all senior-level movements, reflecting the sector’s size, strategic importance, and fast-paced transformation agenda. Manufacturing overall contributed 23 per cent of leadership movements across industries, second only to IT and ITeS.Gender representation continues to lag, with women making up only 14 per cent of executive hires. However, women were more likely than men to be promoted internally — 42 per cent of female hires rose through internal promotions compared to 36 per cent of men, the report noted. The auto sector led in gender representation, with women comprising 26 per cent of executive appointments, nearly double the industry average. Despite this, women leaders in the sector remain heavily concentrated in HR (30 per cent), highlighting a gap in operational, technology, and core business leadership roles, as per PTI.Geographically, Delhi/NCR dominated senior executive movements, accounting for 27 per cent of total transitions, followed by Mumbai with 18 per cent, while Bengaluru and Pune each accounted for 11 per cent of the moves, the report added.
The TOI Business Desk is a vigilant and dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant business news from around the world to readers of The Times of India. The primary focus of the TOI Business Desk is to keep a watchful eye on the global business landscape, covering a wide spectrum of industries, markets, economic trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact businesses and economies. With a mission to provide valuable insights and updates, the desk ensures that TOI readers are well-informed about the ever-changing and dynamic world of commerce and can navigate the complexities of the business world.
Read more on The Times of India
