People Move · October 2026
Megha Mahesh Joins PayU as Director – Talent and Culture
PayU appoints Megha Mahesh as Director – Talent and Culture. Explore her HR career at Vodafone, GoMechanic, Paisabazaar and Bharti Airtel, along with her new responsibilities.
The appointment
PayU has appointed Megha Mahesh as Director – Talent and Culture, bringing experienced HR leadership to the company’s focus on talent development, organisational culture and employee experience. The appointment adds to the growing emphasis on strategic people management across India’s digital payments and financial technology sector.
With more than 11 years of experience in human resources, Mahesh has worked across talent acquisition, HR business partnering, workforce management, diversity and inclusion, and organisational culture. Her career spans established organisations including Vodafone, GoMechanic, Paisabazaar and Bharti Airtel.
Career Background and HR Leadership Journey
Mahesh began her professional career at Vodafone in 2015 as a management trainee after completing an internship with the company. She subsequently moved into talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and HR business partnering.
During her workforce management experience, she handled the employee lifecycle for more than 350 contract workers. Her responsibilities included recruitment, learning and development, compensation and benefits, performance appraisals, payroll and exit formalities. This experience provided exposure to both HR operations and employee management.
Leadership Growth at GoMechanic
In November 2018, Mahesh joined GoMechanic as Senior Manager and Head of Human Resources. Within five months, she was promoted to Associate Vice President and subsequently advanced to Vice President and Head of HR in 2021.
During her tenure, she progressed into senior HR leadership, building experience in people management and the development of HR practices in a business environment. Her career progression reflects a move from operational HR responsibilities towards broader leadership and organisational priorities.
HR Leadership at Paisabazaar
Following her tenure at GoMechanic, Mahesh joined Paisabazaar as Vice President and Head of Human Resources, where she spent approximately one and a half years.
The role further expanded her experience in HR leadership, talent management and employee-related functions before she moved to Bharti Airtel.
Leading Diversity, Inclusion and Culture at Bharti Airtel
Before joining PayU, Mahesh served as Head – Diversity & Inclusion, Culture and Wellbeing at Bharti Airtel for more than two years.
Her responsibilities covered key areas of employee experience, including diversity and inclusion, organisational culture and workplace wellbeing. These functions are increasingly important for organisations seeking to build inclusive work environments, strengthen employee engagement and support long-term talent development.
Her experience at Airtel adds a specialised focus on culture and wellbeing to her broader background in HR operations and leadership.
Education and Professional Background
Mahesh holds a degree in Computer Science Engineering from Jaypee University of Information Technology and an MBA in Human Resource Management from the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, which she completed in 2015.
Her educational background combines technical knowledge with formal management training in human resources. Across her career, she has developed experience in talent acquisition, workforce management, HR business partnering, diversity and inclusion, and organisational culture.
Priorities as Director – Talent and Culture at PayU
At PayU, Mahesh will oversee key people-related functions, including talent management, organisational culture, learning and development, diversity and inclusion, and employee engagement.
- Talent management: Supporting talent development and aligning people capabilities with organisational needs.
- Organisational culture: Strengthening workplace practices and promoting a culture aligned with business priorities.
- Learning and development: Supporting employee learning, professional development and capability building.
- Diversity and inclusion: Advancing inclusive workplace practices and supporting a diverse workforce.
- Employee engagement: Enhancing the employee experience and encouraging stronger engagement across the organisation.
These areas place HR at the centre of workforce development, employee experience and organisational effectiveness.
Why This Appointment Matters
Mahesh’s appointment highlights the importance of combining core HR expertise with specialised experience in culture, diversity and employee wellbeing. As organisations continue to focus on attracting, developing and retaining talent, HR leadership increasingly involves connecting employee experience with wider business objectives.
Her background across technology-enabled businesses, financial services and telecommunications gives her experience across different organisational environments and people-related functions.
Hire Route Take
Megha Mahesh’s appointment as Director – Talent and Culture at PayU marks another step in her HR leadership journey, bringing together experience in workforce management, senior HR operations, diversity and inclusion, and organisational culture.
Her progression from Vodafone to leadership positions at GoMechanic and Paisabazaar, followed by her role at Bharti Airtel, reflects a career spanning several important areas of human resources. At PayU, her focus on talent management, learning and development, culture and employee engagement will form a key part of her new responsibilities.
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