Professional Background and Current Role
Major Akhilesh Guleria (Retd.) serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Reliance General Insurance, a position he has held since July 2018. Based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, he brings over 25 years of professional experience, combining a distinguished career as an Army Veteran with extensive expertise in strategic human resources management. His military background underpins a leadership style focused on discipline and high-performance cultures.
His role at Reliance General Insurance involves spearheading the development of the organization's human capital capabilities, with a focus on skill enhancement, career growth, employee engagement, mentoring, coaching, and retention. He has been instrumental in designing and implementing robust HR systems and processes that foster a culture of growth and innovation within the company.
Key Skills and Expertise
Akhilesh Guleria’s competencies span a broad spectrum of HR leadership functions, including but not limited to:
- Building and sustaining high-performance cultures aligned with organizational values.
- Leading change management initiatives and working effectively across diverse cultural environments.
- Mentoring and coaching employees at various levels.
- Strategic and project management.
- Business judgment and problem-solving in VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) environments.
- HR analytics and digitization, driving data-based decision-making for people management.
- Ensuring HR statutory compliance.
His sectoral experience covers Banking, Insurance, Retail, Wellness, Agricultural Inputs, Pharmaceuticals, and the Armed Forces, indicating his versatility and adaptive skills across industries.
Educational Credentials
Akhilesh holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM), Pune. Additionally, he has a bachelor’s degree in law from New Law College, Bharati Vidyapeeth, enhancing his proficiency in regulatory and compliance matters crucial for HR leadership in the insurance sector.
Professional Recognition and Industry Involvement
- Akhilesh is widely recognized as a thought leader in HR, frequently contributing to industry discussions on topics such as data-driven human resources practices, the future of HR empowered by AI and predictive analytics, and human-first leadership in transformation.
- He has been featured in prestigious platforms such as BW People, People Matters, and ET HRWorld, underscoring his influence and expertise.
- Under his leadership, Reliance General Insurance has won notable accolades including the WOW Workplace Award 2025 by Jombay, reflecting a strong employee-centric culture.
- He has served as a distinguished jury member for the Great Manager Awards 2025, highlighting his stature within the HR community.
Contributions and Strategic Orientation
Akhilesh actively advocates the integration of data analytics and predictive tools to revolutionize HR functions, moving away from instinct-based decisions toward more precise, outcome-driven strategies. His leadership philosophy emphasizes empathetic talent management and foresight in building a future-ready, resilient workforce.
He has been recognized with multiple top performer awards and actively participates in high-profile industry conferences, such as the Employee Experience Summit 2025 and the BW People HR Excellence Awards, reinforcing his commitment to continuous learning and leadership excellence.
Additional Highlights
- His tenure at Reliance General Insurance spans over 7 years, demonstrating stability and deep organizational knowledge.
- Akhilesh’s background as a Major in the Indian Army enriches his approach to HR with a focus on discipline, strategic leadership, and team bonding.
- He has authored diverse thought leadership articles examining leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement, aligning with modern HR trends.
- His interpersonal skills are highly regarded, with multiple professional recommendations emphasizing his articulate communication, collaborative work style, and calm, mature leadership presence.
This comprehensive profile of Major Akhilesh Guleria (Retd.) encapsulates his strategic role as CHRO at Reliance General Insurance, underscoring his extensive experience, sector knowledge, and commitment to driving innovative, data-informed human capital strategies.
