Blue-collar AI recruiter Vahan.ai has appointed Kartik Rao as its Chief People Officer.
“Joining the amazing team of Vahan.ai as Chief People Officer to be on the mission to break the Ovarian Lottery – where you are born shouldn’t decide your financial well-being,” Rao shared his excitement on LinkedIn. “Backed by a collaboration with OpenAI and their cutting-edge AI, Vahan.ai has been working to make job search and hiring truly accessible for India’s informal workforce. Building for dignity, access, and impact. And we’re just getting started.”
Part of the HR industry for more than 15 years, Rao has extensive experience in organisational development, talent acquisition, people and culture, business partnering, and other crucial aspects of HR.
Before Vahan.ai, Rao served as Group Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President – Founder Initiatives for The Good Glamm Group. He joined the company in July 2021 as Chief People Officer – MyGlamm | POPxo | Plixxo | Baby Chakra and became Chief People Officer – Good Glamm Group in September 2021. Rao was then appointed as the Group Chief People Officer in April 2022, followed by another promotion in April 2024.
Rao worked with Bewakoof.com from July 2019 to June 2021, joining the company as Chief People Officer (HR, IR and OD) and then getting promoted to Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff in July 2020. He was also a part of REA India from September 2015 to July 2019 and the Benetton Group from January 2010 to October 2013.
Apart from his position as the Chief People Officer at Vahan.ai, Rao is also a Board Member at Wyn Beauty by Serena Williams, a position he acquired in January 2025.