Maple India, a prominent and expanding player in the Indian retail landscape, has announced the strategic appointment of Farhan Qureshi as its new Group Head HR. This significant move elevates Qureshi to a group-level people leadership position, underscoring Maple India’s intensified focus on human capital as a core driver of its growth trajectory and operational excellence. The appointment was publicly confirmed by Qureshi himself through a post on the professional networking platform, LinkedIn, marking a pivotal moment in both his career and Maple India’s organisational development strategy.
In his comprehensive new mandate, Qureshi is tasked with spearheading the entire human resources function across the full spectrum of Maple India’s diversified operations. This includes direct oversight and strategic direction for all group companies, individual brand portfolios, extensive retail store networks, and the overarching corporate operations. His remit is exceptionally broad, encompassing critical areas designed to build a robust, agile, and high-performing workforce capable of supporting Maple India’s ambitious expansion plans and market leadership aspirations.
A Comprehensive Mandate for Strategic HR Leadership
Qureshi’s responsibilities will span the entire employee lifecycle and organisational development spectrum, reflecting a modern, integrated approach to human resources. Key areas under his leadership will include the formulation and execution of a cohesive HR strategy that aligns with Maple India’s business objectives. This will involve sophisticated workforce planning, ensuring the right talent is in the right place at the right time, especially crucial in the fast-paced and often seasonal retail environment. Talent acquisition will be a paramount focus, encompassing innovative strategies to attract, recruit, and onboard top-tier professionals across all levels, from front-line retail associates to senior corporate executives.
Beyond recruitment, Qureshi will drive organisation development initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of continuous improvement, adaptability, and innovation. Performance management systems will be refined and optimized to ensure fair, transparent, and motivational evaluation processes that drive individual and collective achievement. Compensation and benefits structures will be strategically designed to be competitive, equitable, and aligned with market trends, crucial for talent attraction and retention in a competitive industry. Employee relations will be managed with a focus on fostering a positive and productive work environment, addressing grievances, and promoting open communication.
Crucially, statutory compliance will be a non-negotiable aspect of his role, ensuring adherence to all labor laws and regulations across Maple India’s extensive footprint. Learning and development programs will be conceptualized and implemented to enhance employee skills, foster career growth, and build future leadership pipelines. Employee engagement strategies will be paramount, aiming to create a highly motivated and committed workforce that identifies with Maple India’s vision and values. Finally, the implementation and optimization of Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS) and the leveraging of people analytics will be key to driving data-driven HR decisions, improving efficiency, and providing actionable insights into workforce trends and performance. This holistic approach signals Maple India’s commitment to viewing its employees as its most valuable asset and HR as a strategic business partner.
A Distinguished Career Trajectory in Retail HR
Farhan Qureshi brings a wealth of experience, spanning over 13 years, across various facets of the consumer-facing business landscape, including retail, luxury, jewellery, and apparel. His professional journey is marked by progressively senior roles, demonstrating a consistent track record of success in complex and dynamic environments.
Prior to his current appointment at Maple India, Qureshi served as Manager – Human Resources at Burgundy Brand Collective. During his tenure from May 2025 to August 2026, he was instrumental in heading HR operations, HR business partnering, and talent acquisition across the organisation’s corporate and retail operations. This role provided him with invaluable exposure to the nuanced demands of the luxury retail segment, where he worked with six distinguished brands: Onitsuka Tiger, Royce’ Chocolate, Provenance, Jacadi Paris, Ligne Roset, and Le Mill. The luxury segment presents unique HR challenges, requiring a specialized approach to talent acquisition for highly skilled sales professionals, fostering a culture that embodies brand exclusivity, and ensuring meticulous employee training in product knowledge and bespoke customer service. His experience here underscores his ability to tailor HR strategies to distinct brand identities and market positioning.
Before his impactful stint at Burgundy Brand Collective, Qureshi was associated with Novel Jewels, the burgeoning jewellery business of the Aditya Birla Group, where he held the position of Lead Regional Human Resources Manager – West Region. From November 2023 to January 2025, he played a critical role in supporting the launch and subsequent expansion of the Indriya brand. His responsibilities during this crucial phase included leading talent acquisition efforts to staff new retail outlets, strategic workforce planning to ensure operational readiness, driving employee engagement initiatives to build a cohesive team from the ground up, and overseeing comprehensive HR operations across the western region. This experience honed his skills in rapid scale-up scenarios, managing the complexities of new brand introductions, and establishing HR frameworks from scratch.
Earlier in his career, Qureshi spent over a year with Reliance Retail, one of India’s largest and most diversified retail conglomerates. As State HR Manager – West 1, he managed the human resources function for multiple apparel and footwear brands across the vast and strategically important regions of Maharashtra and Goa. This role involved overseeing HR for a substantial workforce exceeding 3,500 employees. His extensive responsibilities included end-to-end employee lifecycle management, developing and implementing strategies for talent retention and engagement, effective grievance handling, robust performance management, strategic succession planning to identify and nurture future leaders, and meticulous manpower planning to meet operational demands. Managing HR at such a scale provided him with deep insights into the intricacies of large-format retail operations and the challenges of managing a geographically dispersed workforce.
Qureshi’s career also includes significant HR leadership roles at other prominent Indian retail giants, including Raymond, Arvind Lifestyle Brands, and the Future Group. At Raymond, he served as Lead Regional HR – West India, where he was responsible for overseeing HR operations across multiple businesses and diverse brands within the group. This experience further broadened his understanding of managing HR in a multi-segment business environment. At Arvind Lifestyle Brands, he managed HR for a workforce of over 2,000 employees across West India, focusing on critical areas such as recruitment, performance management, succession planning, employee engagement, and ensuring stringent statutory compliance. His tenure at these established retail houses demonstrates his ability to manage large workforces, implement strategic HR initiatives, and navigate complex organizational structures.
His professional journey began with foundational experience in recruitment and talent acquisition, providing him with a strong understanding of the talent market from the ground up. This included a notable stint with Larsen & Toubro, a major Indian multinational conglomerate, where he handled both domestic and international hiring for various IT roles. He also gained valuable experience in recruitment-related positions with VNV Consulting, Target, and Kelly Services India, equipping him with a comprehensive understanding of sourcing, screening, and onboarding diverse talent pools.
Academic Excellence and Foundational Learning
Farhan Qureshi’s strong professional trajectory is complemented by a solid academic foundation. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources Management from the prestigious Guru Nanak Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, where he distinguished himself by ranking first in his final examination, a testament to his intellectual prowess and dedication to the field. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Zoology from Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga, showcasing a diverse academic background that likely contributes to his analytical and problem-solving skills. This blend of academic rigor and extensive practical experience positions him uniquely to drive strategic HR initiatives at Maple India.
Broader Context: The Evolving Landscape of Indian Retail and HR
Qureshi’s appointment at Maple India comes at a transformative period for the Indian retail sector. India’s retail market is one of the fastest-growing globally, projected to reach over USD 1.3 trillion by 2025, driven by rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and a burgeoning digital economy. This rapid expansion necessitates an equally robust human capital strategy. Companies like Maple India are increasingly recognizing that sustained growth and competitive advantage are intrinsically linked to their ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
The role of Human Resources has evolved significantly from a purely administrative function to a strategic business partner. Modern HR leaders are expected to be architects of organizational culture, drivers of productivity, and custodians of employee well-being. The retail sector, in particular, faces unique HR challenges: high attrition rates, the need for continuous training in customer service and product knowledge, managing a diverse workforce across various formats (online, offline, luxury, value), and adapting to technological advancements. According to industry reports, average attrition rates in Indian retail can range from 30-50%, highlighting the critical need for effective employee engagement and retention strategies that Qureshi is tasked with implementing.
Furthermore, the post-pandemic era has accelerated shifts towards hybrid work models for corporate functions, increased focus on employee mental health and well-being, and rapid digital transformation in HR processes. Leveraging HRMS and people analytics, as stipulated in Qureshi’s mandate, is crucial for gaining actionable insights into workforce performance, predicting talent needs, and optimizing HR investments. Data-driven HR can significantly impact business outcomes, with studies often linking high employee engagement to increased profitability, customer satisfaction, and reduced turnover.
Implications for Maple India and the Sector
The appointment of Farhan Qureshi as Group Head HR signifies Maple India’s strategic intent to fortify its human capital infrastructure to support its aggressive growth objectives. His diverse experience across large-scale retail, specialized luxury, and new brand launches makes him an ideal fit for a multi-faceted organization like Maple India, which likely operates across various retail segments or plans to expand into them. His background in managing HR for thousands of employees across geographically dispersed locations demonstrates his capability to handle the scale and complexity inherent in a group-level role.
For Maple India, this move is expected to translate into several key benefits:
- Enhanced Talent Strategy: Qureshi’s expertise in talent acquisition and workforce planning will be crucial in attracting and securing the best talent in a competitive market, fueling Maple India’s expansion.
- Improved Employee Experience: A strong focus on employee engagement, learning & development, and compensation & benefits will likely lead to higher employee satisfaction, reduced attrition, and a more motivated workforce.
- Operational Excellence: Strategic HR initiatives, supported by people analytics, will contribute to greater operational efficiency, better resource allocation, and a more agile organizational structure.
- Stronger Organizational Culture: Qureshi’s mandate to drive organisation development will foster a cohesive culture that aligns with Maple India’s values and business goals, essential for long-term success.
- Compliance and Risk Mitigation: His strong background in statutory compliance will ensure Maple India adheres to all regulatory requirements, mitigating potential legal and reputational risks.
While no official statement from Maple India’s top leadership was provided in the original announcement, it can be logically inferred that such a significant appointment would be met with enthusiasm and strategic vision. A hypothetical spokesperson for Maple India might state: "We are thrilled to welcome Farhan Qureshi to Maple India as our Group Head HR. His extensive experience across diverse retail segments and proven track record in strategic HR leadership will be instrumental in building a high-performance culture and supporting our ambitious growth objectives. This appointment underscores our unwavering commitment to investing in our people, who are at the core of our success and will drive our future market leadership."
From Farhan Qureshi’s perspective, this is a significant career progression, elevating him to a position where he can leverage his vast experience to make a group-wide impact. Elaborating on his LinkedIn announcement, Qureshi might have shared: "I am deeply honored and excited to join Maple India as Group Head HR. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the human resources function across such a dynamic and growing group of companies. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with the leadership team to develop and implement innovative HR strategies that attract, develop, and retain top talent, foster an exceptional employee experience, and contribute significantly to Maple India’s overall business success and sustained market leadership."
In conclusion, Farhan Qureshi’s appointment as Group Head HR at Maple India is more than just a personnel change; it is a clear strategic statement from the company. It signals a robust commitment to human capital development as a cornerstone of its future growth and competitive advantage in India’s dynamic retail landscape. With his extensive and diverse background, Qureshi is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Maple India’s workforce, culture, and ultimately, its trajectory in the years to come.
