Wagh Bakri Tea Group has appointed Swayampriya Shah as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), strengthening its leadership team as it sharpens focus on organisational capability and workforce strategy.
Shah joins the Ahmedabad-headquartered tea company after a successful stint of over seven years with Bira 91, where she held multiple senior HR leadership roles. She joined the company in September 2016 as Director – HR and was subsequently elevated to Vice President – HR and Administration. In January 2022, she was promoted to Senior Vice President – HR and Administration, her most recent role at the organisation.
In her new role at Wagh Bakri Tea Group, Shah will lead the company’s people strategy, talent development initiatives and organisational transformation agenda. Her mandate includes strengthening workforce capabilities and aligning organisational culture with the company’s growth ambitions.
Announcing her appointment on LinkedIn, Shah wrote:
“I am excited to announce that I have joined Wagh Bakri Group as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).
Wagh Bakri’s enduring legacy and strong values have established one of India’s most respected brands. I look forward to collaborating with our teams to shape a progressive people agenda, strengthen organizational capability, and cultivate a culture that promotes both performance and purpose.
I am thankful for the experiences that have led me to this point and looking forward to the journey ahead.”
During her tenure at Bira 91, she played a central role in building talent strategy, leadership development programmes and HR operations within a fast-growing consumer business, supporting the company’s expansion through scaled HR processes and organisational restructuring.
Earlier in her career, Shah served as HR Director at Text 100 (now Archetype) from 2001 to 2006. She later joined Beam Global Spirits & Wine as DGM – HR in 2007. Over four years later, she moved to CMGRP India as Director – Human Resources & Talent, India, where she led the HR and talent function for Weber Shandwick in India. In September 2015, Cohn & Wolfe Six Degrees PR appointed her as Director – Human Resources.
Shah holds an MBA in Human Resources from FORE School of Management, New Delhi.
For Wagh Bakri Tea Group, the appointment reflects continued efforts to institutionalise people processes as it scales operations. As consumer-facing companies navigate heightened competition and evolving workforce expectations, HR leadership remains central to long-term organisational resilience.
In her latest assignment, Shah is expected to embed a cohesive people framework that supports growth while preserving the legacy and values of one of India’s established tea brands.
