People Move · September 2026
Gaurav Saini Joins Skills Development Network as Chief Human Resources Officer
Gaurav Saini joins Skills Development Network as Chief Human Resources Officer, bringing extensive experience in HR strategy, business transformation, talent management, employee engagement and leadership development from senior roles across technology and purpose-driven organisations.
Gaurav Saini joins Skills Development Network
Skills Development Network(SDN), supported by Wadhwani Foundation, has appointed Gaurav Saini as Chief Human Resources Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the organisation continues to focus on skills, employability and workforce development. The appointment was reported on September 8, 2026.
Saini is an experienced HR and business transformation leader with a career spanning strategic HR, talent management, employee engagement, leadership development, organisational change and HR technology. His professional journey has included leadership roles across the technology, insurance and consulting sectors.
HR leadership and business transformation experience
Before joining Skills Development Network, Saini served as Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Wadhwani Foundation, where he led the global HR function for a high-growth, technology-driven organisation focused on social impact. His work at the Foundation included building people practices around innovation, employee experience and organisational growth.
Prior to Wadhwani Foundation, Saini was associated with HMD Global, the company behind Nokia phones, where he served as GM HR – CHRO for India, MEA and APAC and Global Lead for Business Transformation. He led HR for the core business across multiple regions while also contributing to wider business transformation initiatives.
Earlier in his career, he held roles at Happiest Minds, IMImobile, Tata AIA Life Insurance, Aon Hewitt and Aviva, building experience across different areas of people management and organisational development.
People strategy, technology and organisational growth
Saini’s background in HR strategy and business transformation is particularly relevant to Skills Development Network, an organisation focused on developing skills and improving employability.
His experience covers areas including talent management, employee engagement, leadership development, change management, organisational restructuring, wellness and HR artificial intelligence. This gives him a broad understanding of how people strategy can support organisational objectives.
At Wadhwani Foundation, Saini also worked in an environment where technology and AI were closely connected with the organisation’s social-impact mission. He has highlighted the importance of using technology to create greater impact while keeping people and purpose at the centre of organisational growth.
His move to Skills Development Network comes at a time when the relationship between skills, employability and changing workforce requirements is becoming increasingly important.
AI, employability and future-ready talent
Saini’s recent work and professional commentary have also focused on how AI is changing jobs, management and talent development. He has argued that organisations need to rethink how employees build judgement and capabilities when AI takes over parts of traditional work.
This perspective is closely aligned with an organisation working in the skills-development ecosystem. As AI and technology reshape the nature of work, HR leaders will increasingly need to focus on continuous learning, reskilling, employability and future-ready talent.
As CHRO at Skills Development Network, Saini is expected to bring his experience in people strategy, transformation and technology-enabled HR to the organisation.
People leadership at Skills Development Network
His career across HMD Global, Wadhwani Foundation and other technology and services organisations provides experience in managing change, developing talent and creating people practices for evolving businesses.
The appointment also adds another layer to the growing focus on people leadership within the skills and employability ecosystem. With organisations facing rapid changes in technology and workforce expectations, Saini’s experience could help SDN strengthen its internal people strategy while supporting its wider mission around skills and employment.
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