Harsh Mehta has been appointed as Director – Government Relations, India at Rio Tinto, the leading global mining and metals group. In this role, Harsh will lead the company’s public policy, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy efforts across India.
A seasoned public affairs and advocacy executive, Harsh brings over two decades of leadership experience in government relations, policy strategy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications across India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa.
Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Harsh served as Head of Public Affairs for India and South Asia at Alstom, where he spearheaded government engagement, country strategy, and stakeholder outreach during a period of transformational growth in the rail and mobility sector. During his decade-long tenure with Bombardier Transportation, which was acquired by Alstom in 2021, Harsh held regional leadership roles spanning strategic communications, CSR, and public affairs across multiple geographies.
Earlier in his career, Harsh spent nearly ten years at Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading advocacy consultancies. As part of the regional leadership team, he advised global and Indian companies on strategic positioning, public policy, and crisis communication, while mentoring teams and driving business development.
Recognized for his collaborative leadership, policy foresight, and ability to navigate complex public-private intersections, Harsh brings a unique blend of institutional experience, award-winning campaigns, and global cross-market insight to his new role.
Harsh’s work will contribute to positioning Rio Tinto as a trusted partner in India’s development priorities while aligning the company’s global sustainability and decarbonization goals with India’s resource security and policy frameworks.