Manivannan Dhanasekaran

An enterprising professional aiming leverage experience in HR Business Partnering, Talent Strategy, Workforce Planning, Payroll Governance, Organizational Development, and HR transformation to drive business performance and strengthen organizational capability. ~22 years of experience in driving people strategy, organizational effectiveness, workforce transformation, and HR governance in manufacturing and IT environments. Expertise in HR Business Partnering, Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, and Payroll Governance, with a proven ability to optimize workforce productivity, strengthen employee engagement, and enhance organizational performance at scale. Experienced in leading human capital strategies for large, multi-location workforces, entailing workforce planning, succession management, compensation administration, employee lifecycle, and retention programs that support sustainable growth.

Recognized for leveraging HR Analytics, dashboarding, and data-driven decisionmaking to provide actionable workforce insights, control labor costs, improve hiring efficiency, and enable informed executive-level workforce planning. Strong background in HR Digital Transformation, driving HRMS implementations, process automation initiatives, and technology-led improvements. Advisor to business leaders with experience in stakeholder management, compliance oversight, industrial relations, and cross-functional leadership, delivering scalable people solutions that balance organizational priorities with workforce needs.

Senior HR Business Partner / HR Operations Lead - Nippon Paint (India) Pvt. Ltd. - Chennai

(2017-12)

• Driving HR strategy, workforce planning, and manpower governance aligned with organizational objectives, business growth priorities, and operational efficiency goals
• Managing HR budgets, workforce costs, and payroll operations for a workforce of 1,200+ employees, complying with statutory and organizational requirements
• Spearheading HR teams across multiple locations, delivering standardized HR services, policy implementation, and governance across PAN India operations
• Overseeing administration, facilities management, vendor partnerships, and operational governance, ensuring efficient business support functions
• Developing and executing talent acquisition strategies, supported by recruitment analytics and hiring dashboards to optimize talent pipelines and hiring effectiveness
• Orchestrating HR technology transformation initiatives, including HRMS implementation, workforce analytics, and data-driven decision-making capabilities
• Partnering with business leaders to advance diversity hiring, succession planning, talent development, and capability-building programs
• Leading performance management frameworks, including KPI and OKR deployment, to align workforce performance with business objectives and outcomes
• Implementing employee engagement, retention, and compliance while adhering to labour laws, statutory regulations, HR governance standards, and audit requirements
• Directing end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely salary processing while maintaining full compliance with statutory and labor regulations
• Implementing payroll governance and process improvements, enhancing accuracy, reducing payroll discrepancies, and strengthening audit compliance

HR Manager / Talent Acquisition Lead - Infinire Innovative Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. - Chennai

(2015-07 - 2017-12)

• Drove talent acquisition and employee lifecycle management functions, overseeing workforce planning, onboarding, engagement initiatives, and retention programs
• Enhanced recruitment efficiency by diversifying candidate sourcing channels and introducing structured onboarding practices that accelerated new-hire integration
• Strengthened workforce retention through targeted employee engagement strategies and individualized career development interventions
• Facilitated successful onsite resource deployment initiatives, contributing to improved client delivery timelines and increased repeat business opportunities

Deputy Manager – HR (National Role) - Lavazza – Fresh & Honest Café Ltd. - Chennai

(2007-08 - 2015-07)

• Managed nationwide recruitment operations for sales and operational functions, supporting workforce expansion across multiple regions
• Drove implementation of SAP HR Recruitment Module and led the migration of employee records for more than 300 employees, advancing HR process digitization
• Streamlined payroll, incentive administration, and core HR processes through automation initiatives, improving operational accuracy and efficiency

Executive – HR - Apollo Sindhoori Capital Investments Ltd. - Chennai

(2006-12 - 2007-07)

• Supported key human resources operations, including talent acquisition, payroll administration, and employee relations, ensuring smooth workforce management

Executive – HR - Beacon Weir Limited - Chennai

(2004-11 - 2006-11)

• Coordinated shop-floor and production workforce recruitment while administering payroll processes with a consistent record of 100% payroll accuracy

Master of Human Resource Management - Human Resource Management - Pondicherry University (2009 - 2009)

B.E. - Electronics & Communication Engineering - Vel Tech Engineering College (2004 - 2004)