Kiran Bhagnure-Khapre

Chief Human Resources Officer - Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL)

At KOEL, Kiran is currently leading people strategy with a focus on culture building, workforce engagement, and preparing next-generation leaders to thrive in an agile and evolving business environment. She is managing HR across diverse verticals including manufacturing plants, corporate functions, and specialized business units, while also aligning practices across KOEL’s global offices to ensure consistency in values and employee experience. 

With nearly two decades of experience across global organizations, she has developed deep expertise in HR strategy, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, and operational excellence. Her career journey began at Cummins India, where she rose through the ranks to lead HR for multiple corporate and line functions. She later served as India HR Head at Behr-Hella Thermocontrol (BTC) before joining KOEL in 2023, initially managing HR for the Power Generation Business and Kagal Plant, and subsequently heading compensation, talent acquisition, and HR operations.  

Known for her empathetic leadership style and analytical rigor, Kiran is well-regarded for aligning HR practices with business transformation. A metallurgical engineer from College of Engineering Pune (COEP), she completed her post‑graduation in Human Resources from Pune University. As part of her ongoing professional development, she is MBTI-certified and has also pursued critical certification programs at TISS and IIM Ahmedabad.