Leadership Appointments · HR Leadership / People Moves
Saurabh Arora Joins Franklin Templeton as Head of HR, India, Bringing Over Two Decades of Financial Services Experience
Former Waterfield Advisors CHRO and Morgan Stanley HR leader Saurabh Arora takes charge of Franklin Templeton's India HR function, bringing extensive experience in talent management, recruitment strategy, organisational development and financial services leadership.
Saurabh Arora joins Franklin Templeton as Head of HR, India
Global investment management firm Franklin Templeton has appointed Saurabh Arora as Head of Human Resources, India, strengthening its people leadership with a seasoned HR professional who brings more than two decades of experience across the financial services and investment management sectors.
Based in Mumbai, Arora joins Franklin Templeton after serving as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Waterfield Advisors. His professional journey spans prominent global financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, Russell Investments, JPMorgan Chase and American Express.
The latest Franklin Templeton HR leadership appointment brings substantial experience in human resources strategy, talent acquisition, HR business partnering, organisational effectiveness and workforce management to the company's India operations.
Saurabh Arora Moves from Waterfield Advisors to Franklin Templeton
Before his appointment at Franklin Templeton, Saurabh Arora served as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Waterfield Advisors, a wealth advisory and multi-family office firm.
At Waterfield Advisors, which he joined in 2025, Arora held a senior leadership position focused on the organisation's people strategy. His responsibilities encompassed organisational development, talent acquisition, employee retention, performance management and the development of a progressive workplace culture.
His appointment at Waterfield Advisors followed an extensive career in global financial services, where he built expertise in aligning human capital strategies with evolving business requirements.
With his transition to Franklin Templeton, Arora returns to a global investment management environment, bringing experience in developing HR capabilities for complex, multinational financial institutions.
Over 17 Years at Morgan Stanley: A Defining Phase of His HR Career
One of the most significant chapters of Saurabh Arora's professional journey was his association with Morgan Stanley, where he spent more than 17 years developing expertise across multiple human resources leadership functions.
Joining Morgan Stanley in May 2007, Arora held several HR responsibilities spanning business partnering, recruitment, HR operations and strategic workforce initiatives.
During his tenure, his leadership responsibilities included India HR business partnering, HR operations, recruiting strategy and talent acquisition.
He also gained international exposure through an assignment in Hong Kong, where his HR responsibilities included supporting business functions across operations, finance, risk and internal audit.
His experience at Morgan Stanley provided exposure to the workforce requirements of a global financial services organisation, including specialised hiring, leadership engagement, cross-functional coordination and talent management.
This extensive background is particularly relevant to Franklin Templeton, where human resources leadership must operate within a business environment shaped by specialised financial expertise, global collaboration and evolving talent requirements.
Leadership Experience at Russell Investments and Other Financial Institutions
Following his long association with Morgan Stanley, Arora joined Russell Investments in July 2024 as Head of Human Resources, India.
During his tenure until July 2025, he led the company's India HR function, further strengthening his experience in managing human resources responsibilities within a global investment management organisation.
Earlier in his career, he worked with JPMorgan Chase as an HR Business Partner team leader, gaining experience in employee engagement, workforce management and business-facing HR operations.
He also worked at American Express as a Senior Analyst in Cardmember Disputes before progressing into human resources leadership.
His career across these organisations reflects a combination of financial services knowledge and strategic HR experience, covering employee lifecycle management, organisational operations, business partnering and recruitment leadership.
What Saurabh Arora's Appointment Means for Franklin Templeton India
The appointment comes as talent management, workforce transformation and leadership development remain important priorities across India's financial services industry.
Asset management organisations operate in a specialised talent environment that requires expertise across investment management, research, technology, compliance, risk management and financial operations.
As these functions evolve, human resources leaders play an increasingly important role in developing sustainable talent pipelines, strengthening employee capabilities and building organisational cultures that support long-term business objectives.
Arora's background in financial services HR, international business partnering and recruitment strategy positions him to contribute to these priorities.
His experience across global banking, investment management and wealth advisory businesses offers an understanding of the organisational requirements associated with highly specialised professional workforces.
Although Franklin Templeton's specific HR priorities under his leadership have not been publicly detailed, his appointment adds experienced leadership to the company's India human resources function.
HR Leadership and Talent Transformation in India's Financial Services Sector
The appointment also highlights the broader importance of experienced HR professionals within India's banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) ecosystem.
As financial institutions respond to changing skill requirements, technological developments and evolving employee expectations, organisations increasingly need HR leadership capable of connecting talent decisions with business strategy.
Several priorities are shaping the HR agenda across the financial services industry, including strategic workforce planning, specialised recruitment, leadership development, employee experience, organisational agility and technology-enabled HR operations.
For multinational investment management companies, the ability to attract and retain professionals with specialised financial, analytical and technology skills remains an important organisational consideration.
Arora's extensive experience across global institutions gives him a foundation for navigating these challenges and contributing to Franklin Templeton's people management capabilities in India.
Profile and portrait source: CXO Lanes appointment report.
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