HR News: 03 July, 2017

1.

PeopleStrong to acquire two HR businesses this year, and expand internationally

The company is looking to make two significant acquisitions in the next few months, in an endeavour to strengthen its portfolio and expand presence outside India.

After entering into, what is one of the largest deals in HR so far, with the private equity firm Multiples, investing over Rs 400 crore, PeopleStrong is now looking to expand further. The company is expected to make two significant acquisitions this year in an endeavour to strengthen its portfolio.

Pankaj Bansal, chief executive officer and co-founder, PeopleStrong, tells HRKatha that the company plans to expand outside India as well. One of the acquisitions will, therefore, be international.

Although, the details about the firms being considered and the size of the acquisition are not clear yet, Bansal shares that, “One of the acquisitions will be in the match-making or recruitment space as PeopleStrong looks to strengthen its RPO offerings. The other will be in the payroll and technology space.”

2.

UGC to select new chairman from 10 shortlisted candidates

The position has been lying vacant since April 3 following the retirement of Prof. Ved Prakash.

After the University Grants Commission’s (UGC)  chairman, Prof. Ved Prakash, retired on April 3, the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry decided to scout for a replacement. Ten candidates were shortlisted by the search-cum-selection committee (SCSC), headed by Dr H.R Nagendra.

Now, after a discussion, the candidates will most likely undergo personal interactions with the selection committee before a list of three candidates is forwarded to the Union HRD ministry. The shortlisted candidates will apparently be interviewed on May 17. The new selected chairman would be expected to restructure UGC. 

The 10 shortlisted candidates include Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); DP Singh, chief of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC); G C Tripathi, vice-chancellor, Banaras Hindu University (BHU); Yogesh Singh, vice-chancellor, Delhi Technological University (DTU); Y Narasimhulu, head, Rayalseema University; and R S Kureel, vice-chancellor, B R Ambedkar University of Social Sciences (Madhya Pradesh).

Former chairman, Prakash, had been appointed on 8 January 2013, on a condition that his tenure will be for five years or till he turns 65, whichever comes earlier.

V C Chauhan, a UGC member, is currently the acting head.

3.

HR veteran Adil Malia launches a people-centric website

The website aims to share knowledge and improve learning through an engaging medium.

Essar’s former group president-HR, and CEO, The Firm, Adil Malia has taken an innovative step to help people benefit from his years of experience and expertise. The HR veteran has constructed a 'people-centric’ personal website and has loaded it with a lot of live and breathing professional people management material. It aims to share knowledge and improve learning through an engaging medium.
The website features seven tabs offering a pleasurable visual experience and ease in navigation. On the homepage, one can view all of Malia’s LinkedIn and Twitter posts and his doodles. He shares his industry experience, hobbies and mantras in the ‘About’ page.
The website features a unique section called the Querist Corner—an online Q&A section— where people can seek answers to any people-management queries they have and Malia will share his suggestions real-time. “If you have any queries —business linked, professional career linked, policy related, leadership issues, culture, change management, you could write in to me and I will reply,” Malia says.