CHROs on the GO
Everyone who steps into a new role moves the needle. Here we shine a light on the CHROs who are shaping how work is led, felt, and grown across Europe.
This is a curated snapshot of fresh appointments. Leaders who set a people-first tone, open clearer paths for talent, elevate culture, and help teams do their best work.
Explore the moves, meet the leaders, and see where momentum is building.
CHROs on the GO
Everyone who steps into a new role moves the needle. Here we shine a light on the CHROs who are shaping how work is led, felt, and grown across Europe.
This is a curated snapshot of fresh appointments. Leaders who set a people-first tone, open clearer paths for talent, elevate culture, and help teams do their best work.
Explore the moves, meet the leaders, and see where momentum is building.
October 2025
Coats appoints Megan Giannini as Chief People Officer
(October 10, 2025)
Coats (UK, global industrial thread and components manufacturer) welcomes Megan Giannini as its new Chief People Officer (CPO), starting from November 1, 2025. Megan joins Coats after a nearly two-decade career at Philips, where she was most recently leading the International Region People function. During her time at Philips, she lived and worked in various countries and held roles focused on driving business transformation, strengthening leadership, and improving lives through innovation. Megan is a strategic, people-first leader whose global experience will be key to unlocking the full potential of Coats’ employees around the world and driving long-term, sustainable growth.
Kalmar appoints Hanna Reijonen as Senior Vice President, Human Resources
(October 6, 2025)
Kalmar Corporation (Finland) appoints Hanna Reijonen as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and member of the Kalmar Leadership Team, reporting to President & CEO Sami Niiranen. Hanna will lead the company’s global HR strategy and operations, focusing on talent acquisition, development, compensation, and employee engagement. She brings extensive HR leadership experience from Enersense International and a track record of driving transformational, growth-oriented initiatives in complex environments.
MSAB appoints Caroline Palm as Chief Human Resources Officer
(October 6, 2025)
MSAB (Sweden), a global leader in forensic technology, appoints Caroline Palm as Chief Human Resources Officer, based in Stockholm. Caroline joins the management team to lead HR strategy, focusing on performance management, talent development, and HR transformation to support MSAB’s global growth. She brings over 15 years of international HR leadership experience, with previous roles at Voi Technology AB, Leo Vegas Group AB, Serendipity AB, and advisory positions in HR transformation.
Crédit Agricole S.A. appoints Anne-Catherine Ropers as Group Head of Human Resources
(October 1, 2025)
Crédit Agricole S.A. (France) appoints Anne-Catherine Ropers as Group Head of Human Resources, based in Paris. She joins the Executive Committee and will lead the Transformation, Human Resources and Transitions division, driving HR strategy across the group. Anne-Catherine brings more than 20 years of HR leadership experience across Société Générale and Crédit Agricole CIB, with a strong focus on global talent and organizational transformation.
September 2025
Nic Brassey returns to Unilever as CHRO, Foods
(September 1, 2025)
Unilever Foods (Netherlands) welcomes Nic Brassey as Chief HR Officer, based in Rotterdam. Nic re-joins to shape the people strategy for one of Unilever’s flagship businesses, supporting transformation and growth. He brings deep consumer-goods experience and a purpose-led approach to building capability and leadership.
Worldline appoints Anika Grant as Chief People Officer
(September 1, 2025)
Payments leader Worldline (France) appoints Anika Grant as Chief People Officer, based in Paris. Anika leads the global HR agenda to support Worldline’s strategy and innovation ambitions, bringing a track record from Ubisoft, Dyson, Accenture and AECOM.
Alexianer appoints Frank Thörner-Tamm as Chief Human Resources Officer
(September, 2025)
Alexianer GmbH (Germany) appoints Frank Thörner-Tamm as Chief Human Resources Officer and Managing Director. He will join the company on the 1 November, 2025, to lead HR strategy and operations, succeeding Sascha John. Frank brings extensive experience from his previous role as Head of HR & Social Affairs at Asklepios Kliniken.
AllSaints appoints Alex Didymiotis as Chief People Officer
(September, 2025)
Premium contemporary fashion brand AllSaints (UK, global operations) has promoted Alex Didymiotis to Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the global leadership team. Alex joined the group, which also includes John Varvatos, in April 2024 as Global People and Culture Director. Her promotion underlines the importance of people leadership to the business, as she continues to lead the group’s global talent agenda, culture initiatives, and HR operations. She previously held senior roles at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, TFG Brands, and Phase Eight.
Aspris appoints Rebecca Phillips as Chief People Officer
(September, 2025)
Aspris (UK, specialist care and education) appoints Rebecca Phillips as its new Chief People Officer (CPO), based in the Greater Leicester Area. Rebecca will be responsible for shaping the organization’s people strategy, strengthening its culture, and driving initiatives to support its mission of unlocking the potential of every child and young person. She is promoted after serving over four years with Aspris, most recently as People Team Director and Director of People Operations. Her career reflects over a decade of progressive HR leadership, including senior roles at Priory, Kier Group, and Grant Thornton LLP.
Carr’s Group plc appoints Sian Wythe as Chief People Officer
(September, 2025)
Carr’s Group plc (UK, global operations), an international leader in Agriculture and Engineering, has promoted Sian Wythe to Chief People Officer (CPO), joining the global leadership team. Based in Cumbria, she will lead the Group’s people strategy, focusing on talent development and organizational culture to support its international growth and innovation agenda. Sian has been with the company for two years, having previously served as Head of HR Agriculture. Earlier in her career, she held roles at the Financial Ombudsman Service and spent nearly nine years with the Direct Line Group.
Grundfos appoints Anne Grønbjerg as Group Executive Vice President HR, CHRO
(September, 2025)
Grundfos (Denmark, global operations), a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, appoints Anne Grønbjerg as Group Executive Vice President HR and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Anne joined the company in 2016 and previously held several global and regional leadership positions within the Commercial Buildings Services division, based in Bjerringbro and Singapore. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience in global corporations, including various roles in Maersk Line (shipping), where she served as Managing Director in Greece and Jordan, and shorter stints at KPMG and Danfoss. She will be based in Bjerringbro, Denmark.
IFS appoints Mihita Podobnik as Chief People Officer
(September, 2025)
IFS (Sweden, global operations), a leading provider of Industrial AI software, appoints Mihita Podobnik as Chief People Officer (CPO), succeeding Debra McCowan. Mihita was most recently the IFS Chief of Staff, where she led strategic initiatives and drove transformation across the business, partnering closely with the executive team. Her strategic mindset and deep connection to the company’s workforce make her the ideal person to advance IFS’s people-first, high-performance agenda and strengthen its position as a global Industrial AI leader.
Renault Group appoints Claire Fanget as Chief People & Organisation Officer
(September, 2025)
Renault Group (France, global automotive) appoints Claire Fanget as Chief People & Organisation Officer, succeeding Bruno Laforge and joining the Group Leadership Team. Claire will support the Group’s transformation, focusing her priorities on adapting skills and resources to new industry needs and further developing managerial excellence. Having joined the company in 1996, she brings broad HR experience across manufacturing, sales, Alliance, regions, and brands, most recently serving as Head of HR for the Renault brand.
VP Bank AG appoints Marcel Tschanz as Group Head People & Culture
(September, 2025)
VP Bank AG (Liechtenstein, private banking) appoints Marcel Tschanz as its new Group Head People & Culture. Based in Vaduz, he will focus on strengthening the bank’s people strategy, fostering an inclusive and agile culture, and aligning HR transformation with the bank’s global ambitions in private banking and wealth management. Marcel has been with VP Bank AG since 2021, having previously served as Chief Transformation Officer and Chief of Staff. Prior to joining VP Bank, he spent over a decade with PwC in Zurich, where he led transformation and strategy consulting for financial service firms.
August 2025
Medartis appoints Caroline Knoeri as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August 19, 2025)
Medartis strengthens its leadership with the appointment of Caroline Knoeri as CHRO, leading global HR strategy with a focus on talent development and organizational excellence. She brings two decades of HR leadership, including roles at Vontobel, Google and GE.
Schwarz Digits appoints Andra Rupietta as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August 1, 2025)
Schwarz Digits (Germany), the IT and digital division of the Schwarz Group, appoints Andra Rupietta as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Andra will support the growth and development of Schwarz Digits, leading the HR strategy to foster a pioneering culture, and strengthening HR as a strategic business partner in close collaboration with the business units. She brings internal experience, having previously driven cross-divisional HR initiatives, including formulating the overarching HR IT Strategy and implementing the SF EC Global Template with colleagues across Schwarz Corporate Solutions and Schwarz IT.
On welcomes Katarina Berg as Chief People Officer
(August 2025)
On (Switzerland) adds fresh energy to its people agenda with the appointment of Katarina Berg as Chief People Officer in Zurich, Switzerland. Katarina now leads global people and culture with a focus on scaling talent, leadership and ways of working as On continues its rapid growth. Formerly CHRO at Spotify, she brings hard-won experience in culture, hypergrowth and employee experience.
July 2025
DKV Mobility appoints Åsa Lautenberg as Chief Human Resources Officer
(Jul 1, 2025)
DKV Mobility (Germany) strengthens its people agenda with the appointment of Åsa Lautenberg as CHRO, based in Ratingen. She succeeds Jana Eggerding-Tenhagen and leads People & Sustainability strategy and processes, bringing experience from Wittur, Viessmann, Samson and Lufthansa Group.
Christian Louboutin names Anne Raynal Group CHRO
(July 2025)
Christian Louboutin (France) appoints Anne Raynal as Group Chief Human Resources Officer, strengthening the maison’s people agenda as it scales globally. She will lead the group’s HR strategy across talent, leadership, and ways of working from Paris. Raynal brings deep HR and legal expertise from luxury houses including Berluti and Aquazzura.
Capri Sun names Ulrike Kaeppler Chief HR Officer
(July 2025)
Capri Sun has appointed Ulrike Kaeppler as Chief HR Officer, based in Steinhausen (Zug), Switzerland, to strengthen the company’s global people strategy as it scales. She will lead talent, leadership, and culture across Capri Sun’s international markets. Kaeppler brings deep transformation experience, previously serving as Global CHRO at Lonza and holding senior HR roles at Smith+Nephew and SC Johnson.
Voith welcomes Katharina Rath as Chief People Officer
(Jul 1, 2025)
Voith appoints Katharina Rath to the newly created role of Chief People Officer, aligning corporate culture and global HR strategy for the future. She previously served as CPO at DB Schenker and held senior HR roles at Siemens and Continental.
Alstom welcomes Marcella Hoffmann as Chief Human Resources Officer
(Jul 1, 2025)
Alstom strengthens its people and culture leadership with the appointment of Marcella Hoffmann as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Alstom Leadership Team, effective July 1, 2025. She joins from Airbus Defence and Space and succeeds Helen Bradley.
Àlber Blanc appoints Elena Logutova as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2025)
Àlber Blanc appoints Elena Logutova as Chief Human Resources Officer. Elena will lead the company’s HR strategy, focusing on talent acquisition, development, and organizational culture. She brings extensive HR leadership experience across global startups and scale-ups, with a track record of driving growth and innovation in dynamic environments.
ISS Deutschland appoints Anna Hellweg as Chief People & Culture Officer
(July, 2025)
ISS Deutschland (Germany) appoints Anna Hellweg as Chief People & Culture Officer, based in Düsseldorf. Having previously served as Chief People & Culture Officer and Geschäftsführerin (Managing Director), Anna is now focused on strategically driving the company’s people and culture agenda. She first joined the facility management company in May 2019 as Director People & Culture, succeeding Corinna Refsgaard. Anna brings extensive senior HR experience from previous roles at Benteler Automotive, Kienbaum and Partner GmbH, and Dana Holding Corporation.
XTB appoints Julia Panchenko as Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
Online investing leader XTB (Poland, global operations) appoints Julia Panchenko as Chief People Officer. Julia will leverage her extensive experience in fast-paced, global organizations to support XTB’s growth and ambition in the dynamic trading and investing sector. She will focus on strengthening the company culture, driving performance, and supporting talented teams across XTB’s worldwide operations.
Hitachi Energy appoints Alice Hamann as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July 1, 2025)
Hitachi Energy (Switzerland, global operations) appoints Alice Hamann as Chief Human Resources Officer. Alice will lead the global HR strategy, focusing on enabling Hitachi Energy’s ambitious goals and supporting the “One True Hitachi” vision. She brings valuable leadership experience from within the company, having previously worked with the Transformers team.
TLScontact appoints Rudy Cimper as Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
TLScontact (France, global operations), a leading provider of visa application management services, appoints Rudy Cimper as Chief People Officer (CPO). Rudy is promoted to the CPO role after serving as Deputy Director of HR (October 2024 – July 2025) and Regional HR Manager (May 2023 – September 2024) within the company. He brings significant experience in human resources management, recruitment, and international personnel administration from previous roles at ELEVA Capital and Monoprix.
Transdev Deutschland appoints Christian Kleinenhammann as CHRO / Managing Director HR and Social Affairs
(July 1, 2025)
Transdev Deutschland (Germany), a major public transport operator, appoints Christian Kleinenhammann as CHRO / Geschäftsführer Personal und Soziales (Managing Director HR and Social Affairs). Effective July 1, 2025, Christian now holds this role alongside his existing position as Managing Director of Operations (COO) and Spokesperson for the Management Board, which he took up in October 2023. He brings extensive operational and leadership experience, having previously served as Regional Head North-West (Rail & Bus). He is also a Board Member of Niederrheinische Verkehrsbetriebe (NIAG).
thermondo appoints Marie Friedrich as Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
thermondo (Germany), a leading company in heating system solutions, appoints Marie Friedrich as Chief People Officer (CPO). Marie succeeds René Bretschneider, the former Chief People & Sustainability Officer (CPSO). As CPO, Marie takes over the operational leadership of the entire People division, which includes Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and Office Management. The Sustainability function previously held by her predecessor has transitioned to the CFO’s responsibility.
Gräfliche Kliniken appoints Claudia Rosenheinrich as Chief People Officer
(July 1, 2025)
Gräfliche Kliniken (Germany), a family-owned healthcare group focusing on rehabilitation, appoints Claudia Rosenheinrich as Chief People Officer, based in Bad Driburg. Effective July 1st, Claudia brings over 25 years of experience to the role, where she will focus on strengthening the working environment and positioning the clinics for future challenges. She is excited to join a company that combines tradition and innovation with a passion for patient recovery.
Sandler AG appoints Guido Baumgärtner as Chief People Officer
(July 1, 2025)
Sandler AG (Germany), a leading manufacturer of nonwovens, appoints Guido Baumgärtner as Chief People Officer (CPO). Guido transitions into the newly titled CPO role from his previous position as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at the company, demonstrating a continued focus on its people strategy. Based in Gera, Guido brings a robust background in Human Resources and Strategic HR from his long tenure with Sandler AG.
Gruppo Unipol appoints Vittorio Verdone as Chief Human Resources & Internal Communication Officer
(July, 2025)
Gruppo Unipol (Italy), a major financial and insurance services group, appoints Vittorio Verdone as Chief Human Resources & Internal Communication Officer. Named one of the 50 Best HR Directors in Italy by Forbes Italia in 2025, Vittorio brings a strong background in strategic communication, media relations, and corporate reputation to the role. He is positioned to drive the people strategy and internal culture, fostering the Group’s growth through innovation, data, and a focus on collective awareness.
Intermarché & Netto appoints Baptiste Le Sech as Director of Human Resources
(July, 2025)
Intermarché & Netto (France), major retail chains within the Mousquetaires Group, appoints Baptiste Le Sech as Director of Human Resources. Baptiste joins to support a project deeply focused on people, regional presence, and sustainable performance. He will work alongside the leadership team to guide the collective, capitalizing on the strength of the Group’s shared governance model to drive growth and meet ambitious challenges.
FLSmidth appoints Cori Petersen as Executive VP, Chief People Officer and Global Business Services
(July, 2025)
FLSmidth (Denmark, global operations), a leading supplier of sustainable productivity to the mining and cement industries, appoints Cori Petersen as Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, and Global Business Services. Cori is promoted from her previous role as Group Executive, Human Resources and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment), demonstrating a consolidation of key functions under her leadership. She brings extensive strategic expertise in Employee Relations, Performance Management, and Strategic Planning from her tenure at FLSmidth and prior experience at Rio Tinto.
SITS Group appoints Anna Richardson as Group Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
SITS Group (Switzerland, global operations), a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider, appoints Anna Richardson as Group Chief People Officer. Anna brings over 20 years of diverse HR generalist experience across various organizations and industries, including more than 10 years leading globally dispersed People teams within Berlin’s vibrant founder-led tech ecosystem. She has held leadership roles across the USA, EMEA, and APAC and has over three years of executive experience reporting directly to a CEO. Anna will collaborate with CEO Pascal Keller-Bossart to support the company through its current phase of dynamic change and growth, succeeding Ute Maria Zankl.
Fresenius Kabi appoints Tanja Bender as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July 1, 2025)
Global healthcare company Fresenius Kabi (Germany) appoints Tanja Bender as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Tanja transitions into the permanent CHRO role after having served as the Interim Chief HR Officer for several months. She is committed to supporting Fresenius Kabi’s mission of being “Committed to Life” and will collaborate with CEO Pierluigi Antonelli and the Executive Leadership Team to advance people practices that drive the company’s transformation into an even more competitive and impactful organization.
Logisfashion SA appoints Irene Félez Monter as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2025)
Logisfashion SA (Spain, global operations), a logistics and transport company specializing in the fashion sector, appoints Irene Félez Monter as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Irene brings over 15 years of HR experience across diverse sectors, including Logistics, Retail, Technology, and Textile Industry. In her role, she will focus on change management, designing and implementing policies to build an attractive, motivated, and productive workforce. Her expertise includes conflict resolution, people development, and negotiation.
Star-shl appoints Carmen van Casteren as HR Manager / CHRO
(July, 2025)
Star-shl (Netherlands), a market leader in medical and laboratory diagnostics, appoints Carmen van Casteren as HR Manager / CHRO. Operating across the regions of North Brabant, Zeeland, and South Holland, Star-shl is a key innovation leader in healthcare. Carmen will oversee the human resources strategy for the organization, which provides comprehensive services including imaging, functional testing, and runs one of the Netherlands’ most advanced, highly automated laboratories in Rotterdam.
NACOS Marine appoints Undine Peters as Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
NACOS Marine (Germany, global operations), a newly established standalone maritime technology company following a carve-out from Wärtsilä, appoints Undine Peters as Chief People Officer (CPO). Undine will lead the people and culture strategy for the organization, which operates in 10 countries with over 730 employees. She brings more than 15 years of experience in People & Culture roles, specializing in Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, and Organizational Development within fast-paced, global environments, with a focus on growth and stability.
Travelex appoints Jeroen Bongers as CHRO Netherlands
(July, 2025)
Travelex (Netherlands, global operations) appoints Jeroen Bongers as CHRO Netherlands, adding this leadership role to his existing position as Head of HR Europe (a role he has held since November 2023). Jeroen is a knowledgeable and internationally experienced HR professional with a strong track record of successfully managing change in complex and ambitious companies. He is recognized for his operational, hands-on approach to handling significant organizational changes, including upscalings, downsizings, and establishing business operations in new countries, and for building effective HR teams.
PwC appoints Sophie Mouhieddine as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2025)
PwC (France, Consulting/Professional Services) appoints Sophie Mouhieddine as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Sophie brings over 25 years of experience as an HR Director, specializing in international recruitment and talent development policies. She is an expert in creating strong employer brands, guiding organizational transformations, and structuring the HR function. Her background includes working with major international brands in customer-focused sectors such as consulting (BT Consulting & SI), hospitality (Groupe Flo), and specialized retail (Sephora, Aigle, Maisons du Monde).
Sarens appoints Thijs Lombaert as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2025)
Sarens (Belgium, global operations), the reference in crane rental services, heavy lifting, and engineered transport, appoints Thijs Lombaert as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Thijs is tasked with leading the global HR strategy and aligning the company’s human capital with its strategic goals—ensuring the right talent is in the right place at the right time. He moves into this executive position after serving as the Group C&B/HRIS/HRO Manager for six years (July 2019 – July 2025) within Sarens.
Nedap appoints Jan-Willem Bouwmeester as Chief People Officer
(July, 2025)
Nedap (Netherlands, technology/solutions provider) appoints Jan-Willem Bouwmeester as Chief People Officer (CPO). A passionate Industrial & Organizational Psychologist, Jan-Willem is focused on unlocking the full power of talented humans and transforming human potential into human capital. He brings a strong track record of building people and organizational capabilities across various sectors, with deep expertise in global talent management, leadership development, DE&I, performance management, and HR Technology.