Boeing has announced the appointment of Sarma Chillara as Executive Director of Human Resources for India and South Asia. In this role, he will oversee the company’s people strategy across the region, focusing on strengthening organizational capability, building workforce capacity, and fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture.
Chillara takes over from Ajay Sharma, who has moved into a global role as Executive Director, HR for Boeing Europe, Israel & Ukraine, and HR Business Partner for Global Engineering.
Commenting on the appointment, Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, said, “Sarma’s diverse industry experience and strategic approach to people leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our operations in the region. His leadership and expertise will help shape a future-ready workforce and talent strategy that supports the evolving needs of India’s aerospace and defence sector.”
Boeing continues to reinforce its commitment to safety and quality through strengthened values that emphasize accountability, transparency, and ownership. In his new role, Chillara will play a key part in advancing these priorities, supporting capability development, operational excellence, and overall business performance across the organization.
With nearly two decades of experience, Chillara has worked across automotive, banking, consulting, and retail sectors. He joins Boeing from Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, where he spent over 13 years and served as a Member of the Board for Human Resources. He is known for building impactful HR strategies that align with business transformation and growth agendas.
Sarma Chillara holds an MBA in Human Resources from the Welingkar Institute of Management and has completed executive programs at The Wharton School and the University of Michigan. He also contributes to the education ecosystem through advisory roles with Mahindra International School and Welingkar’s HR Advisory Board.
