Girdhari Kumar

Girdhari Kumar, Technical Director, Henkel Corporation

Girdhari Kumar is a seasoned technical and business leader with more than two decades of experience driving innovation, manufacturing excellence, and sustainable growth across global automotive and industrial markets. He currently serves as Technical Director and Head of Product Development for Automotive OEMs in the Americas at Henkel, leading high-performing teams across the U.S. and Mexico to execute technology roadmaps, advance digitalization strategies, and strengthen competitiveness through next-generation materials, AI-enabled innovation, and lab automation. Across roles spanning R&D, product development, commercialization, and organizational transformation, Girdhari has delivered strong financial impact, including multimillion-euro sales growth, market share expansion, and accelerated new product pipelines. He has built and scaled technical organizations, supported the development of major innovation centers, and led cross-functional global collaboration while ensuring world-class quality, regulatory compliance, and product stewardship. Girdhari holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from The Ohio State University, holds multiple patents, and frequently presents at industry forums on sustainability and manufacturing efficiency. He brings a strategic mindset, deep technical expertise, and a strong commitment to advancing U.S. manufacturing capability, workforce development, innovation, and sustainability.