The Work With Dignity (WWD) Foundation has announced the appointment of Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey as its Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2025. The mission-driven organisation is committed to creating a nation where every working individual experiences respect, safety, and purpose at work.
Mr. Pandey will report to the Foundation’s Board, represented by Prasenjit Bhattacharya, Founder of Great Place to Work India & Sri Lanka and CEO & Co-founder of Great Manager Institute. In his new role, he will lead WWD’s national-scale efforts by expanding partnerships across government, business, and civil society, strengthening program impact, and deepening engagement with underserved working communities.
His move to WWD follows his tenure as Social Defence Fellow in the Indian Administrative Fellowship (2024–25 cohort), where he worked with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on strengthening dignity and social protection for vulnerable groups.
Calling the role a continuation of his mission-driven journey, Mr. Pandey said, “This is not just a career move — it’s a continuum of purpose. After serving Bharat Sarkaar, I now dedicate myself to serving Bharat’s people through enterprise. Work With Dignity is my mission to ensure every working hand contributes at its highest productivity with respect, safety, and purpose.”
With over 28 years of entrepreneurial and transformational leadership experience, Mr. Pandey has built a reputation for driving sustainable growth and building high-performance workplaces. As CEO of Tata Green Batteries, he repositioned the brand under the “Naye India Ki Nayi Battery” vision, championing environmentally responsible innovation. Earlier, as Managing Director & CEO of Hella India Lighting Ltd., he led the company to become one of India’s Top 25 Great Places to Work in 2019 and a CII Innovation Award recipient.
An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, ISB Hyderabad, and NIT Calicut, he has received multiple accolades including the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award, ET-Now CSR Leadership Award, and The Economic Times’ Most Promising Business Leader of Asia. He also contributes extensively to the ecosystem through ACMA, ASDC, MEPSC, and FICCI, and has founded and supported several social and mobility-focused initiatives such as Prayaas Bangalore and Drive Smart, Drive Safe.
Mr. Pandey’s role at WWD will run parallel to his leadership positions in the mobility ecosystem. He serves as Co-founder of Autoverse Mobility, where he is driving efforts to empower multi-brand aftermarket workshops and technicians with faster access to spare parts. Additionally, he transitioned from a non-executive role to Executive Director at Paracoat Products Ltd. on September 1, 2025, contributing to its strategic growth.
WWD Foundation, headquartered in Mumbai, works to build workplaces across India that are purpose-driven, inclusive, and free from toxicity. It brings together corporates, NGOs, academia, and government bodies through CSR collaborations, livelihood initiatives, and mentorship programs focused on improving wellbeing, productivity, and human capital.
“With Mr. Pandey’s leadership, the Foundation is poised to scale its reach and deepen its impact through stronger industry–NGO–government collaborations,” said Mr. Prasenjit Bhattacharya, Director at Work With Dignity Foundation.
Mr. Pandey will also continue his voluntary contributions to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s Beggary-Free India and Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan, supporting policy improvements and on-ground implementation.