Speaker's profile

Adrita Datta

Human Resources Director

British American Tobacco

Daniel has successfully led large-scale HR initiatives including mergers & acquisitions, digital HR transformation, and shared services centralisation. He is recognised for building HR functions from the ground up, most notably establishing the full HR setup for Mah Sing’s healthcare manufacturing business within months. His leadership approach blends strategic foresight with operational rigour, enabling business-aligned, high-impact HR outcomes.

He is a recipient of multiple HR awards, including recognition from Malaysia’s MITI and Honeywell Global, and has contributed to industry discussions. A licensed counsellor, Daniel brings strong coaching capabilities and a deep understanding of cultural dynamics to his leadership, making him a trusted advisor to business leaders across the region.Adrita Datta is a dynamic HR professional with over 17 years of holistic experience spanning commercial business partnering, HR operations, and centers of excellence (COE) roles, including talent, organisational effectiveness (OE), and employer branding. Currently based in Malaysia as HR Director of Malaysia Cluster, Adrita has worked in diverse capacities across several markets in the ASPAC region, including Bangladesh, Japan, and Sri Lanka, bringing a rich global perspective to her work.

Her career reflects a seamless blend of strategic HR expertise and hands-on commercial acumen, including a transformative stint as a regional manager leading frontline commercial operations. This diverse experience has cemented her reputation as a commercially sound HR leader with a deep understanding of market dynamics and business imperatives across varied cultural landscapes.

At the core of Adrita’s leadership philosophy is a passion for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), promoting employee wellbeing, and building future-ready organisations. Her contributions in these areas have significantly strengthened her workplaces that empower talent to thrive.

Recognised for her impactful leadership, Adrita was named a Progressive Women Leader in 2017 by a leading organisation in Bangladesh. She is also celebrated as one of the industry’s Top 20 Voices in Bangladesh, frequently sharing insights on leadership, DEI, and workforce transformation with global audiences.

Adrita holds an MBA in Human Resources Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Pune under Indian Govt Scholarship. Her unique combination of technical and HR expertise positions her as a forward-thinking leader adept at navigating the evolving intersection of people and business strategies. Now, as a key leader in Malaysia and the broader South East Asia region, Adrita continues to drive transformative change by aligning organisational goals with human potential, redefining HR leadership on a global stage.