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.
August 2026
Inchcape appoints Patrick Bradley as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
Inchcape plc (UK/Global, a leading global automotive distribution giant) has appointed Patrick Bradley as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Committee. Patrick brings extensive global HR leadership experience across the automotive, retail, and FMCG sectors. He joins Inchcape from B&M Retail, where he served as Chief People Officer. His background also includes senior executive HR roles as Group HR Director at Greggs and international HR leadership positions at Asda and Walmart. Reporting directly to Group Chief Executive Duncan Tait, Patrick takes accountability for Inchcape’s global talent and organizational transformation strategy. His primary mandate focuses on strengthening leadership capabilities, driving workforce integration across international markets, and aligning human capital with the group’s automotive distribution growth strategy.
Iochpe-Maxion promotes Mark Sinar to Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
Iochpe-Maxion (Brazil/Global, a world leader in the production of automotive wheels and structural components) has promoted Mark Sinar to Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Mark brings over 20 years of international human resources leadership experience within the industrial manufacturing and automotive sectors. He joined Iochpe-Maxion in 2018 and most recently served as Global HR Director, where he managed regional HR operations and talent development frameworks across international markets. In his promoted role, Mark takes full accountability for Iochpe-Maxion’s global people strategy and corporate HR governance. His primary mandate focuses on driving organizational effectiveness, advancing global leadership development programs, and aligning workforce strategy with the company’s automotive innovation and sustainability goals.
Storytel Group appoints Åsa Barsness as Chief People and Communications Officer
(August, 2026)
Storytel Group (Sweden/Global, a leading Nordic audiobook and e-book streaming service) has appointed Åsa Barsness as Chief People and Communications Officer and a member of the Executive Management Team. Åsa brings extensive international executive experience in human resources, corporate communications, and organizational development. She joins Storytel from Epiroc, where she served as Senior Vice President of HR & Communications. Her background also includes executive leadership roles as Chief People Officer at Skistar and Senior Vice President of HR at Handelsbanken, along with senior talent roles at Nordea. Reporting directly to CEO Bodil Ericsson Torp, Åsa takes charge of Storytel’s global people, culture, and communications strategy. Her primary mandate centers on driving cultural integration, aligning internal and external communications with business targets, and developing agile workforce capabilities to support Storytel’s continued global streaming expansion.
Marriott International appoints Ming Choo Ling as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
Marriott International (Singapore, hospitality group, based at the company’s APEC regional headquarters) has appointed Ming Choo Ling as Chief Human Resources Officer for Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), effective immediately, as the hospitality group nears 1,000 hotels in the region. Reporting to Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, she joins from Unilever, where she served as CHRO for Home Care Greater Asia, partnering with senior business leaders on organisational capability, talent development and large-scale transformation. Over more than 25 years in HR leadership, she has held country, regional and global roles across consumer goods and technology companies. In her new role, she will lead the region’s leadership and talent strategy across close to 116,000 associates.
Unisys appoints David Bundy as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
Unisys (global IT services company; this appointment covers its UK/Europe organization) has appointed David Bundy as Chief People Officer, effective August 2026, promoted from his role as Global HRBP Vice President at Unisys. Bundy brings over three decades of HR leadership experience, including senior roles at DXC Technology, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP, and Electronic Data Systems. He also serves as a Non-Executive Director at iPSL. In his new role, he will lead people strategy for Unisys’ approximately 15,000 global associates, with a focus on workforce development, AI fluency, and preparing talent for the company’s AI-first strategy.
London Gatwick appoints Kathleen Maes as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
London Gatwick (UK, the UK’s second-largest airport) has appointed Kathleen Maes as Chief Human Resources Officer, joining the executive team as the airport prepares for major long-term growth including the planned expansion of its Northern Runway. She joins from BT Group, where she spent 12 years in senior HR leadership roles, most recently as HR Director for Portfolio Business, Transformation and M&A, and previously as HR Director for Transformation and Europe, overseeing the people agenda for roughly 3,500 employees across European markets. Earlier in her career she built the HR function from the ground up as HR Manager Benelux at Jaguar Land Rover Benelux, and held HR roles at Facilicom Services Group Belgium and as a Trade Union Officer with LBC-NVK.
Airbus appoints Netra Gowda as Vice President, HR Transformation, Digital & AI
(August, 2026)
Airbus (Germany, aerospace group providing commercial aircraft, defence, space, helicopters and services) has appointed Netra Gowda as Vice President, HR Transformation, Digital & AI, based in Munich, effective August 2026. She rejoins Airbus from Stellantis, where she served as Vice President of Strategy, Planning and Portfolio. Gowda brings over a decade of prior experience at Airbus across strategy, innovation, and transformation roles, including Head of Advanced Analytics, AI & Cloud Acceleration at Airbus Defence and Space and Chief-of-Staff to the Digital Transformation Officer, as well as earlier roles at Intel and DaimlerChrysler. In her new role, she will draw on her background across AI, digital technologies, culture change, and corporate strategy to lead HR transformation, digital, and AI initiatives.
HiQ appoints Ida Malmqvist as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
HiQ (Sweden, technology consulting firm specializing in custom software development and digital transformation, with approximately 1,700 technology experts) has appointed Ida Malmqvist as Chief People Officer, effective October 19, 2026. Reporting to CEO Peter Arrhenius, she will join HiQ’s Group Management. She joins from Inera, where she served as HR Manager and a member of the management team, and also brings consulting industry experience from Netlight. In her new role, she will focus on strengthening HiQ’s people, culture, and leadership initiatives, including talent attraction, development and retention, employer branding, learning, and employee engagement.
COWI appoints Marianne Bie Frydendahl as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
COWI (Denmark, international engineering, architecture, energy and environmental consulting firm with around 6,900 employees) has appointed Marianne Bie Frydendahl as Chief People Officer, effective October 1, 2026. She joins from Novonesis, where she served as Vice President Strategy, Integration and Sustainability. Frydendahl brings more than 18 years of experience at Novozymes in senior operational and leadership roles, including Vice President People and Organization and Vice President Quality, Environment and Safety. In her new role, she will focus on people strategy, organisational capability, technology and innovation to support sustainable growth across COWI’s infrastructure, renewable energy, and environmental sectors.
Surventis Appoints Dr. Rebecca Koch as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
Surventis (Germany/Global, a leading European healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution provider) has appointed Dr. Rebecca Koch as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Rebecca brings extensive global HR leadership experience across the healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial technology sectors. She joins Surventis from DB Schenker, where she served as Chief People Officer for Europe. Reporting to the executive leadership team, Rebecca’s primary mandate centers on leading large-scale cultural and organizational transformation, optimizing talent acquisition across international markets, and aligning HR capabilities with the company’s growth agenda.
AXA appoints Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
AXA (France, global insurance and financial services leader) has appointed Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet as Group Chief Human Resources Officer, effective 1 September 2026, and she also joins the Management Committee. Reporting to Deputy General Secretary Karima Silvent, she will lead Group-level HR functions including talent management, compensation, culture, diversity, HR operations, social relations, and learning and development. She returns to AXA, where she began her career in M&A from 1998 to 2001, after serving as France’s Minister for Labour and Employment (2024–2025) and a Member of the French National Assembly. Her corporate background also includes senior leadership roles at Groupama and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and a board seat at Air France-KLM. In her new role, CEO Thomas Buberl says her experience with culture, lifelong learning and diversity will be a strategic asset as she aligns human capital initiatives with AXA’s next strategic plan.
Ørsted appoints Simon Ashley as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
Ørsted A/S (Denmark/Global, a world-leading renewable energy company specializing in offshore wind power) has appointed Simon Ashley as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Executive Vice President, succeeding Henriette Fenger Ellekrog. He joins Ørsted from global energy major BP, where he served as Vice President of HR for Production & Operations and previously held key executive HR and commercial roles spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Reporting directly to Group President and CEO Rasmus Errboe, Simon takes charge of Ørsted’s global workforce strategy across its international green energy operations. His core mandate focuses on driving organizational efficiency, fostering an agile workforce culture, and building strategic leadership capabilities to support Ørsted’s ongoing transformation and global offshore wind portfolio.
Coloplast appoints Amanda Rajkumar as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
Coloplast A/S (Denmark/Global, a leading multinational medical device and healthcare company) has appointed Amanda Rajkumar as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Leadership Team, effective 1 September, 2026. Amanda brings three decades of global HR leadership experience across the consumer goods and financial services sectors. She joins Coloplast from adidas, where she served on the Executive Board as Head of Human Resources, People & Culture. Reporting directly to CEO Gavin Wood, Amanda takes responsibility for advancing Coloplast’s global people and culture strategy. Her primary mandate centers on building a high-performance, winning culture, strengthening leadership and succession pipelines, and evolving career development opportunities across Coloplast’s international operations to support long-term growth.
FactSet appoints Di Hirji as Chief People & Workforce Officer
(August, 2026)
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (US/Global, a leading financial data and software analytics provider) has appointed Di Hirji a new Chief People & Workforce Officer to lead its global talent and workplace operations. Hirji brings extensive human resources leadership experience from the technology and financial services sectors, joining FactSet to steer its workforce transformation and corporate culture initiatives. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and joining the Executive Steering Committee, Di Hirji takes charge of FactSet’s global human capital strategy. The primary mandate centers on optimizing hybrid work frameworks, fostering an inclusive and innovative environment, and driving strategic talent development to align with the company’s long-term digital growth agenda.
FLSmidth appoints Lise Linnebjerg as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
FLSmidth A/S (Denmark/Global, a major engineering and technology provider for the global mining industry) has appointed Lise Linnebjerg as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of Group Executive Management. Lise brings substantial international HR executive experience across global industrial, energy, and engineering sectors. She joins FLSmidth from Ørsted, where she held key senior people leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Head of HR for Commercial & Functions. Her career also spans executive HR roles at global shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk. Reporting to Group CEO Mikko Keto, Lise takes accountability for FLSmidth’s global human capital and workplace transformation strategy. Her primary mandate focuses on strengthening performance culture, optimizing leadership and talent pipelines, and driving organizational effectiveness to align with the company’s pure-play mining growth strategy.
Paysafe appoints Najuma Atkinson as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
Paysafe (UK, global payments platform) has appointed Najuma Atkinson as Chief People Officer, effective July 2026. She joins from Hasbro, where she served as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. Atkinson brings nearly 30 years of HR leadership experience, including 22 years at Dell Technologies — most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources overseeing 100,000+ employees — as well as leadership roles at Deutsche Bank and SunTrust Bank. She also serves on Marqeta’s Board of Directors. In her new role, she will lead global people strategy and talent management, focusing on leadership development, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness during the company’s expansion.
tk accelis appoints Jennifer Weihs as Chief Human Resources Officer
(August, 2026)
tk accelis (Germany, materials distribution and digital supply chain company) has appointed Jennifer Weihs as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective October 1, 2026. She joins from OBI Group Holding, where she served as Managing Director People & Organizational Development (CHRO), leading the people agenda for around 40,000 employees across ten countries. Weihs brings over 15 years of HR experience, including a role as Senior Vice President Human Resources at Fresenius Group and consulting positions at Korn Ferry, Willis Towers Watson, and hkp/// group. In her new role, she will lead strategic HR, organizational transformation, talent management, and international HR strategy to support tk accelis’ global expansion.
NextPharma appoints Monica Mauri as Chief People Officer
(August, 2026)
NextPharma (Netherlands, pharmaceutical services company) has appointed Monica Mauri as Chief People Officer, effective May 2026. She joins from ERIKS, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for nearly six years. Mauri brings more than three decades of experience across HR, organizational transformation, talent management, and change management, including roles as VP Head of HR at Staples Solutions, VP Head of HR Europe at Staples, and HR Director positions at Randstad Italia. In her new role, she will lead NextPharma’s people agenda, focusing on cooperation, trust, continuous learning, and employee engagement across the organization.
July 2026
Arcadis appoints Jana Belyusova as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Arcadis N.V. (Netherlands/Global, a leading global design, engineering, and management consulting firm) has appointed Jana Belyusova as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Jana brings 30 years of global HR leadership experience across the technology, consumer, and media industries. She joins Arcadis from Versuni (formerly Philips Domestic Appliances), where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer leading HR operations across 53 countries and co-led a large-scale corporate transformation. Her previous executive roles include Chief HR Officer at Endemol Shine Group, as well as senior international HR positions at Nike and Philips. Jana takes accountability for the firm’s global workforce strategy across its 37,700 employees. Her core mandate centers on advancing organizational performance and culture, accelerating talent and leadership development, and fostering an inclusive environment to support Arcadis’s international growth phase.
Bank of Ireland appoints James Magill as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Bank of Ireland (Ireland/Global, a leading financial services group in Ireland) has appointed James Magill as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Group Executive Committee. He succeeds Matt Elliott following his planned departure. James brings extensive global HR leadership experience across the industrial and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. He joins the bank from FTSE 100 international sales and marketing group DCC plc, where he served as Chief People Officer. Prior to DCC, he spent over a decade at Diageo in senior HR leadership roles, including HR Director for Great Britain and HR Director for Africa Regional Markets. Reporting directly to Group CEO Myles O’Grady, James will lead Bank of Ireland’s overarching human resources strategy. His primary mandate centers on fostering corporate culture transformation, strengthening talent pipelines, and driving organizational capability to support the group’s digital and strategic growth agenda.
Campari Group appoints Elena Anfosso as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2026)
Campari Group (Italy/Global, a leading multinational spirits company operating iconic global brands) has appointed Elena Anfosso as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Team. She succeeds David Souperbiet. Elena brings over 20 years of experience across multinational consumer goods and healthcare sectors. She joins Campari from British American Tobacco (BAT), where she spent over seven years, most recently as Global HR Lead for Transformation in London and previously as Regional HR Director for Europe & the Americas. Reporting to CEO Simon Hunt, Elena takes accountability for driving Campari Group’s global people agenda across its international workforce (“Camparistas”). Her core mandate centers on fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture, advancing HR automation initiatives, and aligning organizational capabilities with the group’s long-term strategic growth goals.
Keller Group plc appoints Matt Stripe as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Keller Group plc (UK, geotechnical engineering group) has appointed Matt Stripe as Chief People Officer. He joins from Lipton Teas and Infusions, where he led the global people function for the world’s largest tea business. Stripe brings four decades of international leadership experience across organizations including Nestlé, Nestlé Waters, Laird, PZ Cussons, and nearly two decades at BAE Systems. In his new role, he will lead global people strategy for Keller’s 10,000+ employees across five continents, focusing on organizational capability, leadership effectiveness, talent development, and succession planning.
Sia appoints Marie-Alice Goujard as Chief People Officer for EMEA & APAC
(July, 2026)
Sia (France, global management consulting firm) has appointed Marie-Alice Goujard as Chief People Officer for EMEA & APAC. She was previously Chief People Officer for France, Italy, and Morocco at Sia, which she joined in 2018 as Head of Recruitment & Employer Branding. Goujard brings over 14 years of HR experience, including five years at Wavestone and earlier roles at Lactalis Nestlé and Stellantis. In her expanded role, she will oversee talent management, leadership development, organizational culture, employer branding, and HR transformation across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
Gestamp appoints Minna Rouru as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Gestamp (Spain, global automotive components manufacturer) has appointed Minna Rouru as Chief People Officer. She joins from Suominen Corporation, where she served as Chief People & Communications Officer, and brings over 25 years of international HR leadership experience across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North America, including as Vice President of People & Communications at KONE and Area HR Director at Wärtsilä. Her responsibilities at Gestamp span Human Resources, Health, Safety & Environment, and Internal Communications across the company’s operations in 24 countries with more than 43,000 employees. She will focus on fostering an inclusive culture, strengthening leadership capabilities, enhancing employee engagement, and building organizational resilience to support the company’s future growth.
Costa Coffee appoints Jez Langhorn as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Costa Coffee (UK, global coffee chain headquartered in London) has appointed Jez Langhorn as Chief People Officer. He joins from Starbucks, where he served as Senior Vice President – HR North America, and brings over two decades of global HR leadership experience, including as Chief Human Resources Officer at Global Partners LP and more than 17 years at McDonald’s, most recently as Senior Vice President/Chief People Officer for UK & Northern Europe. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. In his new role, he will lead Costa Coffee’s Global People function, focusing on strengthening the organization’s culture, leadership capability, talent strategy, and business performance as the company expands internationally.
Stebby appoints Laura Pukk as Chief People and Corporate Services Officer
(July, 2026)
Stebby (Estonia, health and wellness benefits platform) has appointed Laura Pukk as Chief People and Corporate Services Officer and Management Board Member, effective July 2026. She is promoted from Head of People at Stebby, a role she has held since 2022, and previously spent over six years at Cash On Go Ltd, progressing from HR Specialist to Head of People Operations, with earlier roles at EveryPay, The Coca-Cola Company, A&G Toitlustuse AS, and Krediidiinfo AS. In her expanded role, she will oversee People, Legal & Compliance, Accounting, and Technical Support functions, continuing to lead initiatives in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.
Macmillan Cancer Support appoints Tiger de Souza as Chief People & Culture Officer
(July, 2026)
Macmillan Cancer Support (UK, cancer support charity) has appointed Tiger de Souza as Chief People & Culture Officer, effective July 2026. He joins from Samaritans, where he served as Executive Director (People & Culture) leading people strategy across more than 200 branches, and previously held roles including People Engagement Director and Director of Volunteering, Participation and Inclusion at the National Trust, and Head of Involvement at RICS. In his new role, he will lead the organisation’s people and culture strategy and its People and Culture Directorate, overseeing equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives and strategic workforce planning in support of the charity’s 3.5 million beneficiaries.
Siempelkamp appoints Marianne Gras as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Siempelkamp (Germany, industrial machinery manufacturer headquartered in Krefeld) has appointed Marianne Gras as Chief People Officer and Management Board Member, effective July 1, 2026. Reporting to the Management Board and CEO Martin Scherrer, she succeeds Stefan Ziemes, who stepped down on June 30, 2026 after more than 25 years. Gras joined Siempelkamp in 2023 as Team Lead HR Development and Recruiting, advancing to Deputy Chief People Officer in 2026, and previously worked as a Health Manager and Personnel Development Specialist at Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf and in consulting roles at Kölner Institut für Managementberatung and GeBeGe. She holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. In her new role, she aims to position HR as a global value driver, with strategic priorities including global HR strategy, leadership development, talent management, and future-ready workplaces.
Coty appoints Séverine Charbon as Chief People and Purpose Officer
(July, 2026)
Coty (France, global beauty company founded in Paris in 1904) has appointed Séverine Charbon as Chief People and Purpose Officer, effective September 1, 2026. She succeeds Priya Srinivasan, who is stepping down for personal reasons. Charbon joins from Publicis Groupe, where she served as Chief People Officer – International, and brings over 25 years of experience in talent strategy and organizational transformation, including as Global Chief Talent & Transformation Officer at Publicis Media, a similar role at ZenithOptimedia Group, Chief People & Transformation Officer at VivaKi, and People & Network Integration Director at Publicis Asia Pacific. In her new role, the appointment reflects Coty’s commitment to strengthening its people strategy, leadership capability, and organisational culture as the company continues its transformation and growth journey.
WPP Media appoints Darren Minshall as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
WPP Media (UK/Global, global media collective combining platforms, people, technology and strategic partnerships) has appointed Darren Minshall as Chief People Officer. He joins from Native Instruments, where he served as Global Vice President – People (Fractional). Darren brings over 25 years of HR leadership experience across media, technology, digital, creative, e-commerce, and private equity, including roles as Global Chief People Officer at Berlin Brands Group and senior HR positions at Havas UK, Saatchi & Saatchi, and McCann Worldgroup; he also founded the advisory firm GrowthScope. In his new role, he will lead WPP Media’s global people strategy, focusing on talent, organizational transformation, leadership capability, culture, and workforce innovation across its international operations.
Zühlke Group appoints Christina Hübschen as Group Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Zühlke Group (Switzerland, global transformation partner with engineering and innovation at its core, serving regulated industries including healthcare and financial services) has appointed Christina Hübschen as Group Chief People Officer. Reporting to CEO Gregor Bieler, Christina succeeds Hannah Hall-Turner, who resumes her role in Talent & Learning and APAC People & Culture. She joins from Universal-Investment, where she served as Chief People & Culture Officer and Managing Director. Her background includes CHRO at Avaloq, Managing Director at Thinkproject, and a decade at Accenture leading large-scale HR operations across multiple regions. In her new role, she will lead People & Culture across EMEA, UK, and APAC, shaping people strategy across the full employee lifecycle and supporting organizational performance, talent development, and long-term growth.
BMW Group appoints Dorothea von Boxberg as Board Member for Human Resources
(July, 2026)
BMW Group (Germany, global automotive manufacturer) has appointed Dorothea von Boxberg as Board Member for Human Resources, effective September 2026. She continues as CEO of Brussels Airlines and also serves as a Supervisory Board Member at Continental. Von Boxberg brings over 25 years of leadership experience, including nearly eight years at Lufthansa Cargo in senior roles including CEO and CFO, and earlier positions within Lufthansa Group, Star Alliance, and The Boston Consulting Group. In her new role, she will focus on leadership capability, organizational transformation, and talent development to support BMW through the automotive industry’s shift toward electrification and digitalization.
Bournemouth University appoints Helen Clegg as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Bournemouth University (UK, higher education institution) has appointed Helen Clegg as Chief People Officer, effective early October 2026. She joins from Lloyd’s of London, where she served as Head of People since 2022. Clegg brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience across financial services, manufacturing, professional services, and higher education, including senior HR roles at Barclays and earlier positions at Deutsche Bank and Parker Hannifin. In her new role, she will lead Bournemouth University’s people strategy, focusing on leadership, culture, workforce capability, employee engagement, and organizational excellence.
RLC Aerospace appoints Debbie Adams as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
RLC Aerospace (UK, aerospace technology company) has appointed Debbie Adams as Chief People Officer. She joins from People First Collective, the culture-transformation and leadership-coaching consultancy she founded, and previously served as Vice President of HR, Talent & Engagement at GKN Aerospace. Adams brings nearly 30 years of HR experience across aerospace, aviation, retail, and consulting. In her new role, she will lead RLC Aerospace’s global people agenda, overseeing talent strategy, leadership development, organisational capability, employee engagement, culture, and workforce transformation.
Kantar promotes Imma Bardés to Chief People Officer, EMEA & Corporate Functions
(July, 2026)
Kantar (Spain/Global, marketing data and analytics company operating in more than 90 markets) has promoted Imma Bardés to Chief People Officer, EMEA & Corporate Functions, effective April 2026. She moves up from her role as Global People Director – Product, Technology and Transformation at Kantar, capping a decade-long tenure with the company that also included stints as Country HR Director for Southern Europe and HR Director roles across Asia-Pacific. Bardés brings over 25 years of international HR leadership experience. In her new role, she will lead people strategy across EMEA and Corporate Functions, focusing on organizational capability, AI and agent-based ways of working, culture building, and talent acquisition, development, and retention.
Accent appoints Kimberly Lanssens as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Accent (Belgium, recruitment and staffing firm) has appointed Kimberly Lanssens as Chief People Officer. She succeeds Lindsay Demuynck, who became CEO of TMI in the Netherlands. Lanssens joins from within the company, having served as Head of Compliance at Accent since 2021, and previously as Chief Operating Officer at AGO Jobs & HR, where she spent over 13 years in roles including Social Law Manager and Social Law Consultant. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in human resources, compliance, and employment law within Belgium’s recruitment sector. In her new role, she will focus on advancing people strategy, strengthening leadership capability, nurturing talent development, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace.
Axel Springer appoints Clara von Hugo as Global Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2026)
Axel Springer (Germany, media and technology group) has appointed Clara von Hugo as Global Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 2026. She joins from within the company, having most recently served as Global Head of Executive & HR Advisory, and brings over 18 years of experience in human resources, executive talent management, leadership development, and organizational transformation, including more than a decade at Axel Springer in roles such as Global Head of Executives & Talents and Head of Leadership & Expert Development. Earlier in her career she held positions at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, Groupon GmbH, and Hays. In her new role, she will lead global people strategy with a focus on leadership development, talent management, organizational capability, and culture to support the company’s long-term strategic vision.
Diageo appoints Natalie Bickford as Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2026)
Diageo plc (UK/Global, the FTSE 100 alcoholic beverage giant) has appointed Natalie Bickford as Chief Human Resources Officer, succeeding Louise Prashad. Natalie brings over two decades of international executive HR experience. She joins Diageo from Sanofi, where she served as Chief People Officer, and previously held top people roles including Group HR Director at Merlin Entertainments and VP of HR at Sodexo. Reporting to CEO Sir Dave Lewis, Natalie takes responsibility for Diageo’s global talent and organizational strategy. Her core mandate focuses on driving cultural inclusion, streamlining global operations, and aligning workforce capabilities with the company’s cost optimization and agile transformation targets.
QAD appoints Toktam Khatibzadeh as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
QAD Inc. (US/Global, a leading provider of cloud-based enterprise manufacturing and supply chain solutions) has appointed Toktam Khatibzadeh as Chief People Officer (CPO). Toktam brings over 20 years of global HR leadership experience across FTSE 100, private equity-backed, and enterprise software organizations. She joins QAD after serving as Chief Human Resources Officer at Software AG, where she spearheaded large-scale reorganizations and talent strategies alongside PE stakeholders. Her background also includes serving as HR Director at Finastra, Head of HR Transformation at Experian, and senior HR leadership roles at Eversheds and Barclays. Reporting to the executive leadership team, Toktam takes accountability for QAD’s global workforce and organizational transformation strategy. Her core mandate centers on partnering with leadership to accelerate enterprise performance, fostering an inclusive, high-integrity corporate culture, and aligning people frameworks to enable sustainable organizational scaling.
Molteni & C appoints Giuseppe Arcamone as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(July, 2026)
Molteni & C (Italy/Global, an iconic high-end luxury furniture and interior design manufacturing group) has appointed Giuseppe Arcamone as Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Giuseppe brings over 20 years of international HR leadership experience in global manufacturing, specializing in organization design, industrial relations, executive succession, and total rewards. Prior to Molteni & C, he served as Group HR Vice President at industrial technology company Eldor Corporation and held senior HR director roles at multinational manufacturers including Flex and Whirlpool Corporation. Reporting to the CEO and partnering with the Executive Committee, Giuseppe takes accountability for shaping the group’s international HR operating model. His core mandate focuses on aligning organizational design with corporate growth, strengthening leadership capabilities, and building scalable workforce structures across Molteni & C’s international luxury operations.
Holland & Barrett appoints Michelle Boothroyd as Chief People Officer
(July, 2026)
Holland & Barrett (UK/Global, a leading health and wellness retailer operating over 1,000 stores internationally) has appointed Michelle Boothroyd as Chief People Officer (CPO). Michelle brings extensive experience in strategic HR leadership, digital business transformation, and cultural change across FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and financial services sectors. She joins Holland & Barrett from FTSE 250 residential property group Grainger PLC, where she served as Chief People Officer for over four years. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and joining the Executive Committee, Michelle takes accountability for Holland & Barrett’s global workforce strategy. Her primary mandate centers on driving cultural transformation, empowering retail and corporate teams, and embedding innovative HR frameworks to support the company’s omnichannel health and wellness growth strategy.
Sani/Ikos Group appoints Patricia Lajara de Camilleri as Chief Human Resources Director
(July, 2026)
Sani/Ikos Group (Greece/Global, a leading €4 billion luxury resort and hospitality group) has appointed Patricia Lajara de Camilleri as Chief Human Resources Director (Group CHRO) and a member of the Executive Committee. Patricia brings over 20 years of international HR leadership experience in the luxury, lifestyle, retail, and wellness sectors. She spent nearly two decades at Ralph Lauren, serving most recently as Vice President of HR for EMEA, where she led human resources through major commercial turnarounds and store expansions. Prior to joining Sani/Ikos Group, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Swiss luxury skincare brand L.RAPHAEL. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Patricia takes accountability for leading the global people strategy across the group’s 8,000 employees as it scales toward 12,000. Her core mandate centers on managing large-scale organizational expansion, driving cultural integration, and building high-performance HR frameworks to support Sani/Ikos Group’s international resort developments.
June 2026
SHL appoints Paramita Chatterjee as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
SHL (UK, global leader in talent intelligence with 50+ years of experience in assessment and talent management solutions) has appointed Paramita C. as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. She joins from Cornerstone OnDemand, where she was Vice President, Global HR Business Partnering, and previously spent 14 years at PayPal in senior HR leadership roles spanning HRBP, talent development, and global learning. In her new role, she will lead SHL’s global people strategy and support the organization’s evolution in identifying and developing human potential in the age of artificial intelligence.
Ayvens appoints Emma Furniss as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Ayvens (Netherlands, leading global sustainable mobility company providing full-service leasing, flexible subscriptions, fleet management, and multi-mobility solutions) has appointed Emma Furniss as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. She joins from Philips, where she spent over 11 years in increasingly senior HR roles, most recently as Head of People, Precision Diagnosis Business and Health Systems Services. In her new role, she will lead global people strategy, talent development, and workforce transformation across Ayvens’ more than 42 countries and 14,500+ employees.
Travis Perkins plc appoints Sally Dunn as Chief Human Resources Officer
(June, 2026)
Travis Perkins plc (UK, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials to trade customers) has appointed Sally Dunn as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective June 2026. She moves up from HR Director, HR Shared Services and Interim Director of Reward at Travis Perkins, after nearly two decades with the company in organizational development, talent strategy, and reward management roles. In her new role, she will build a high-performing, people-focused culture and lead workforce strategy across the company’s 17,000+ colleagues and 1,400+ branches.
Panasonic Europe appoints Andrea Clack as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Panasonic Europe (Germany, global leader in innovative technologies across consumer electronics, housing, devices, B2B solutions, and energy) has appointed Andrea Clack as Chief People Officer, effective April 2026. She moves from Chief Audit & Risk Officer at Panasonic, following a near three-decade career at the company that included Head of Internal Audit – Europe & CIS Regions and Internal Audit Manager – UK, after starting out at Grant Thornton UK. In her new role, she will drive a people-first transformation focused on openness, connection, and trust, strengthen cross-organizational collaboration, and preserve the human element amid AI adoption while expanding the company’s Basic Business Philosophy training.
DeNovo Dental Partners appoints Caroline Hutchins as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
DeNovo Dental Partners (UK, transforms the UK dental practice sector through an innovative shared ownership model) has appointed Caroline Hutchins as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. She joins from Darcy Jay, where she was Managing Partner advising on executive leadership, organizational transformation, and people strategy. Caroline brings over 30 years of international HR leadership across retail, professional services, technology, and healthcare, including prior CPO roles at Infinigate Group and Azets, having led more than 80 acquisition integrations, plus senior HR roles at METRO AG, Makro Cash and Carry, Tesco, and Clarks. In her new role, she will lead people strategy, organizational transformation, and talent management to support DeNovo’s shared ownership expansion across the UK dental sector.
Sodexo appoints Agnès Park as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(June, 2026)
Sodexo (France, global leader in food services and facilities management) has appointed Agnès Park as Group Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Reporting to CEO Thierry Delaporte, she joins from Valeo, the global automotive technology company, where she was Chief Human Resources Officer. Agnès brings over 27 years of HR leadership across automotive, pharmaceutical, technology, and life sciences, with expertise in organizational transformation, workforce planning, and labor relations. In her new role, she will shape global people strategy, strengthen talent development, and support Sodexo’s “Shift & Grow” transformation program.
Blue Light Card appoints Julia Diggs as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Blue Light Card (UK, the country’s leading discounts and rewards platform for serving and retired frontline workers) has appointed Julia Diggs as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. Reporting to CEO Alidad Moghaddam, she joins from OVO Energy, where she was Vice President of People. Julia brings over 25 years of people and culture leadership across start-ups, scale-ups, and large public and private companies, having led post-acquisition integration at OVO and built an employer brand recognized among the UK’s Best Places to Work for Women. In her new role, she will lead people strategy during a growth phase, supporting the organization’s 6+ million members across emergency services, the NHS, social care, teaching, and the armed forces.
Aviva Investors appoints Claire Mogford as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Aviva Investors (UK, the global asset management business of Aviva focused on institutional and individual investment solutions) has appointed Claire Mogford as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. She moves internally from People Director – Wealth at Aviva’s Wealth business, having progressed through senior HR roles across the Aviva Group including Head of People positions and HR Business Partner – Global Finance over more than 17 years. In her new role, she will lead people strategy for Aviva Investors, supporting talent development, culture, and leadership capability to foster a high-performance organization.
Personio appoints Philipp Richter as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Personio (Germany, leading European HR technology platform serving 16,000+ organizations globally) has appointed Philipp Richter as Chief People Officer, effective July 2026. He moves internally after six years at Personio, most recently as Chief of Staff and Managing Director of the Personio Foundation, having previously worked as a Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company and Deloitte. In his new role, he will lead global people strategy, talent management, and workforce planning, with a focus on AI-driven workforce transformation initiatives.
Syncron appoints Bianka Hay-Falk as Chief Human Resources Officer
(June, 2026)
Syncron (Sweden, leading provider of intelligent aftermarket solutions for manufacturers, dealers, and distributors) has appointed Bianka Hay-Falk as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Reporting to CEO Josh Weiss, she joins from Hexagon AB, where she spent nearly six years including as Chief of Staff, People & Culture Innovation Hub and Director of People & Culture Corporate Office. Her earlier career includes roles at Leica Geosystems and around eight years at Swarovski, including Head of Compensation & Benefits. In her new role, she will lead the global people and culture function, advance people strategy, and strengthen organizational capabilities supporting long-term business ambitions.
ING appoints Hilde Garssen as Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Management Board Banking
(June, 2026)
ING (Netherlands, global financial institution and one of the world’s leading digital banks) has appointed Hilde Garssen as Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Management Board Banking, effective September 1, 2026. She joins from KPN, the Dutch telecommunications company, where she was Chief Human Resources Officer and a member of the Executive Committee and Board. Hilde brings over 25 years of leadership experience in banking and telecommunications, including nearly two decades at ABN AMRO Bank in progressively senior HR and operations roles spanning post-merger integration and large-scale digitization programs. In her new role, she will lead the bank’s people and culture agenda, focusing on leadership capability, talent development, and organizational effectiveness to support ING’s digital transformation.
Centrient Pharmaceuticals appoints Genevieve Machin as Chief People and Transformation Officer
(June, 2026)
Centrient Pharmaceuticals (Netherlands, global leader in sustainable enzymatic antibiotics, statins, anti-fungals, and pharmaceutical ingredients) has appointed Genevieve Machin as Chief People and Transformation Officer, effective June 2026. She joins from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, where she was Chief Human Resources Officer. Genevieve brings over 25 years of HR leadership across multinational organizations including Gates Corporation, CHAMP Cargosystems, PolyOne, Husky Injection Molding Systems, and Bank of Montreal, with expertise across Europe and North America. In her new role, she will lead global people strategy and drive enterprise-wide transformation, talent strategy, and organizational effectiveness.
Worten Portugal appoints Miguel Tolentino as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Worten Portugal (Portugal, leading Iberian technology and consumer electronics retailer with 230+ stores across Portugal and Spain) has appointed Miguel Tolentino as Chief People Officer on a permanent basis, effective June 2026, following a secondment that began in December 2025. He joins from Sonae, where he was Head of People & Leadership and Continuous Improvement, having previously served as Head of Group People & Culture at Sonae Capital. Miguel brings nearly 30 years of HR, leadership development, and organizational transformation experience across the Sonae ecosystem. In his new role, he will strengthen leadership capability, develop talent, and foster a high-performance culture supporting Worten’s growth agenda.
NFP, an Aon Company appoints Gemma Saunders as Group Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
NFP, an Aon Company (UK, risk and human capital advisory and consulting solutions provider) has appointed Gemma Saunders as Group Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. She moves internally from Group Operations Director at NFP, having previously served as Head of Human Resources–Associate Director at Gleeson Recruitment Group and held roles at Hudson, Phee Farrer Jones, and MG Rover. In her new role, she will lead NFP’s people strategy across the UK and Ireland, supporting business growth, organizational capability, and talent development.
Avarda Group appoints Therese Reinfeldt as Chief People & Culture Officer and Head of Communication
(June, 2026)
Avarda Group (Sweden, financial services company offering payment, savings, and lending solutions across Europe, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm) has appointed Therese Reinfeldt as Chief People & Culture Officer and Head of Communication, effective June 2026. She joins from Epiroc, where she was Group Talent Acquisition Manager, and brings over 20 years of experience in executive search, talent management, and succession planning, including founding T. Reinfeldt & Partners AB and nine years at Heidrick & Struggles. In her new role, she will lead the company’s people, culture, talent, leadership, and communication agenda, supporting Avarda’s European expansion.
The Premier League appoints Holly Hunter as Head of People
(June, 2026)
The Premier League (UK, the highest level of England’s football league system) has appointed Holly Hunter as Head of People, effective June 2026. She moves up from Senior People Manager after more than seven years with the League, having progressed through roles including People Manager and People Executive, following two years at Swarovski in operational and HR-focused positions. In her new role, she will lead workforce planning, employee experience, talent management, and organizational development.
Trafigura appoints Sarah Wohnlich Kane as Chief Human Resources Officer
(June, 2026)
Trafigura (Switzerland, leading global commodities group connecting vital resources through infrastructure and logistics networks) has appointed Sarah Wohnlich Kane as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective June 2026. She joins from Glencore, where she spent over five years including as Global Head of Human Capital – Copper and Head of Group Organizational Development, and previously was a Partner at PwC and a decade-long Partner and Director at Deloitte leading its Human Capital Consulting practice in Switzerland. In her new role, she will lead Trafigura’s global people agenda, drawing on nearly 30 years of experience in human capital strategy and organizational development.
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement appoints Elena Pantazidou as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Cyprus, one of the world’s leading integrated maritime solutions providers managing over 670 vessels) has appointed Elena Pantazidou as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. Reporting to CEO Sebastian von Hardenberg, she succeeds Bjoern Sprotte, who departed at his own request; Elena moves up from Group Director HR (Shore) and Management Board member, having been with BSM since 2010. In her new role, she will unify leadership across the shore-based and seafaring workforce, taking on new responsibility for Group HR Marine, alongside sustainability and corporate communications functions; Sofronis Theodosiou has been appointed Group HR Marine Director, reporting to her.
Comarch Financial Services appoints Olga Komornicka as Chief People Officer
(June, 2026)
Comarch Financial Services (Poland, leading provider of advanced IT solutions and services for the financial and insurance sectors) has appointed Olga Komornicka as Chief People Officer, a newly created role, effective June 2026. She joins from Tylko, where she served as Chief People & Culture Officer. Olga brings over 15 years of experience in HR, business consulting, and leadership development, including more than six years at OTCF S.A. in progressive senior HR roles and earlier stints at Atos, GE Healthcare, and Alexander Mann Solutions managing recruitment and transformation projects for clients including Microsoft, Nike, Vodafone, Rolls-Royce, and the UK Post Office. In her new role, she will align HR processes with business objectives, strengthen people strategy and organizational capability, and support the company’s growth and transformation initiatives.
IN Groupe appoints Calixte de la Martiniere as Chief Human Resources Officer
(June, 2026)
IN Groupe (France, global specialist in secure identity and digital services with roughly 500 years of history) has appointed Calixte de la Martiniere as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective June 2026. He joins from Groupe Beneteau, where he spent over seven years as Chief HR, Transformation & Communication Officer. His background spans nearly two decades of international leadership in HR, business transformation, and organizational development, including leading post-merger integration at Fnac Darty and seven years advising global organizations at BearingPoint. In his new role, he will align organizational design, leadership, culture, and talent with business ambitions, strengthen a shared culture across 4,000 employees in 40 countries, and accelerate talent development following the integration of IDEMIA Smart Identity.
Alfasigma appoints Gianluca Ventura as Chief Human Resources Officer
(June 2026)
Alfasigma S.p.A. (Italy/Global, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company specializing in specialty and prescription therapeutics) has appointed Gianluca Ventura as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Gianluca brings over 25 years of global HR leadership experience in driving large-scale organizational transformation, cross-border M&A integration, and talent development. He joins Alfasigma from Nexi Group, a major European digital payments provider with over 10,000 employees, where he served as Group CHRO. Prior to Nexi, he was CHRO at Nordic payment service provider Nets Group, leading the HR integration of multiple strategic mergers. His extensive background also includes senior international HR leadership roles at Vodafone and serving as a non-executive director at Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom.
May 2026
Eggers & Franke Group appoints Victoria Tornau as Head of HR
(May, 2026)
Eggers & Franke Group (Germany/Global, a leading distributor of premium wines and spirits and a subsidiary of the Rotkäppchen-Mumm Group) has appointed Victoria Tornau as Head of HR and a member of the Management Team. Victoria brings over 15 years of comprehensive HR experience, specializing in change management, performance culture, and strategic talent acquisition. She joins the group from Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien, where she spent several years in leadership roles, including Senior HR Business Partner for Sales and Operations. Earlier in her career, she held key talent acquisition and human resources positions at The Coca-Cola Company and Adecco. In her new role, Victoria will define and execute the overarching HR and workplace culture strategy across the entire Eggers & Franke Group network. Her mandate focuses on optimizing cross-functional leadership, accelerating digital transformation within HR operations, and building robust talent pipelines to drive sustainable, long-term commercial growth.
Finnair appoints Sini Kivekäs as Chief People Officer
(May, 2026)
Finnair (Finland/Global, the network flag carrier specializing in passenger and cargo traffic between Asia, North America, and Europe) has appointed Sini Kivekäs as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Board, effective June 1, 2026. Sini, who holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, brings nearly 30 years of extensive leadership experience from the financial services sector. She joins the airline from Finnish financial group Aktia, where she served as a Group Executive Committee member overseeing group functions and human resources. Prior to that, she held multiple senior leadership positions at Nordea. Reporting directly to CEO Turkka Kuusisto, Sini will take ownership of Finnair’s global people strategy and corporate governance. Her primary mandate centers on advancing the airline’s employee experience strategy as a core business driver, strengthening labor relations amidst industry-wide cost headwinds, and aligning workforce capability with Finnair’s 2026–2029 profitable growth targets.
GSK appoints Roanne Parry as Chief People Officer
(May, 2026)
GSK plc (UK/Global, the FTSE 100 biopharma giant) has appointed Roanne Parry as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Committee, based in London. She succeeds Diana Conrad, who retired after a 26-year tenure at the company. Roanne brings nearly 30 years of global healthcare HR experience and returns to GSK after a two-year tenure as Chief Human Resources Officer at biotech multinational CSL. Prior to CSL, she spent 22 years at GSK in multiple senior roles, including Senior VP of HR for Global R&D, SVP of HR for Global Pharma Commercial, and VP of HR for Emerging Markets based in Singapore. Reporting to the executive team, Roanne takes ownership of GSK’s global workforce and corporate culture strategies. Her core mandate focuses on boosting global leadership capabilities, expanding technical workforce skills, and aligning talent development frameworks to accelerate the company’s pipeline of innovative medicines and vaccines.
Universal Investment Group appoints Regina Bertram-Pfister as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Universal Investment Group (Germany/Global, Europe’s leading fund services provider and Super ManCo) has appointed Regina Bertram-Pfister as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Regina brings extensive experience leading people functions through complex organizational transformation and growth. She joins the firm from GETEC Group, where she served as Group CHRO from 2023. Prior to that, she was Senior Director of HR for Lifesciences (PST) and Head of HR for the DACH region at Ingersoll Rand, overseeing HR operations for a workforce of approximately 3,000 employees. Reporting directly to Group CEO Francesca McDonagh, Regina takes ownership of the group’s global people strategy. Guided by the corporate values of trust, collaboration, and innovation, her core mandate centers on building a high-performing organizational culture, strengthening leadership capabilities, and accelerating talent and organizational development to support Universal Investment’s long-term international expansion.
Which? appoints Hannah Linforth as Group People Director
(May, 2026)
Which? (UK, the country’s largest independent consumer champion and non-profit advocacy group) has appointed Hannah Linforth as Group People Director. Hannah brings a wealth of extensive human resources and people leadership experience across major UK media, digital, and consumer tech organizations. She joins the consumer champion from Moneysupermarket Group, where she held key senior HR roles. Her professional background also features senior people leadership and HR transformation tenures at global youth media brand VICE Media, as well as major British broadcasters BBC and Channel 4. In her new role, Hannah takes accountability for leading Which?’s overarching people strategy and workplace culture. Her core mandate centers on fostering a high-performing and inclusive organizational environment, optimizing talent development and acquisition across the group, and aligning workforce capability with Which?’s mission to empower consumers and drive systemic market change.
Endress+Hauser appoints Helena Svensson as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Endress+Hauser (Switzerland/Global, a leading specialist in measurement instrumentation and automation technology) has appointed Helena Svensson as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Board. Helena brings deep international experience to the role, joining from ACCO Brands, where she served as Vice President of Human Resources International for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Her previous background includes significant HR leadership roles at family-oriented corporate groups Bosch and Voith. In her new role, Helena is responsible for group-wide HR management across the family-owned company. She will place a heavy strategic focus on training and education, supporting Endress+Hauser’s value-oriented culture and its commitment to long-term employee development.
HENSOLDT appoints Inka Tews as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
HENSOLDT AG (Germany/Global, a leading European defense industry sensor solutions giant and MDAX-listed provider of networked defense electronics) has appointed Inka Tews as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Inka brings over 25 years of human resources management experience from international technology sectors, specializing in organizational development and post-merger integration. She joins HENSOLDT from Infineon Technologies, where she served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, steering global HR structures through major business transformation and growth phases. Her career also features extensive leadership tenure across North America. Reporting to CEO Oliver Dörre, Inka joins the executive leadership with a broad corporate mandate. In addition to overseeing HENSOLDT’s global HR organization for its 9,000 employees, she takes accountability for group-wide facility management, corporate security, and sustainability (ESG) frameworks to support the company’s scaling trajectory.
Immunocore appoints Anne Sefu-Kobai as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Immunocore Holdings plc (UK/Global, a commercial-stage biotechnology company pioneering T cell receptor immunotherapies) has appointed Anne Sefu-Kobai as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Anne brings deep global HR leadership experience across the healthcare, energy, telecommunications, and consumer sectors. Her background also includes senior HR leadership roles at Globeleq, GSK and Vodafone, alongside early career transformation and communications leadership experience at The Coca-Cola Company. Reporting to the executive leadership team, Anne takes accountability for Immunocore’s global workforce strategy. Her core mandate centers on accelerating the organization’s commercial and scientific scaling, driving culture transformation, and building high-performing leadership capabilities to support the next phase of the company’s clinical and commercial expansion.
Stillfront Group appoints Tobias Julén as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Stillfront Group AB (Sweden/Global, free-to-play gaming powerhouse) has appointed Tobias Julén as Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Group Executive Management team. Tobias brings deep expertise in global organizational scaling, workforce planning, and leadership development within high-growth technology environments. He joins Stillfront following an eight-year tenure at cybersecurity company Tanium, where he spent the last four years as Chief People Officer. Reporting closely to President and Group CEO Alexis Bonte, Tobias takes accountability for Stillfront’s global talent and workplace strategy across its international network of gaming studios. His core mandate centers on raising the bar for organizational accountability, refining global executive governance and rewards frameworks, and streamlining cross-border HR processes to optimize performance and support the group’s continued studio-driven expansion.
Alter Domus appoints Victoria Livingstone as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Alter Domus (Luxembourg/Global, a leading provider of fund administration services for alternative investments) has appointed Victoria Livingstone as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Victoria brings extensive experience leading large-scale corporate transformations at Ford, Cisco, Vodafone, Liberty Global, and HSBC. Most recently, she served as EMEA Chief People Officer at Dentsu, where she led cross-border business integration and launched a modernized global HR operating model. In her new role, Victoria leads Alter Domus’s global people strategy and corporate culture. Her primary mandate centers on driving talent acquisition, optimizing international shared services, and scaling the organization’s workforce capability to support its ongoing international growth.
B&M Retail appoints Jennifer Lawrence as Group People Director
(May, 2026)
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (UK/Global, a leading FTSE 100 variety retailer) has appointed Jennifer Lawrence as Group People Director. Jennifer is a commercial, results-driven people leader with over 25 years of HR experience specializing in leadership capability and business transformation. She joins B&M from Card Factory, where she served as Executive People and Transformation Director. Her extensive retail background also includes senior HR leadership positions at Boots Opticians and Costcutter. Reporting to CEO Tjeerd Jegen, Jennifer will head a newly unified Group HR function that brings together workforce operations across B&M UK, B&M France, and Heron Foods. Her core mandate is to drive collaborative organizational change, deepen talent diversity across the executive levels, and scale regional HR capabilities to support B&M’s rapid international retail expansion.
Blue Water Shipping appoints Stine Würtz Jepsen as Chief Human Resources Officer
(May, 2026)
Blue Water Shipping (Denmark/Global, a leading international transport and logistics provider) has appointed Stine Würtz Jepsen as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). She will head the group’s global People & Culture function. Stine brings over 20 years of international HR leadership experience across the energy, technology, and industrial sectors. Her extensive background includes serving as CHRO at Skyborn Renewables, Senior VP of Group HR at Terma A/S, and Chief People & Culture Officer at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind. Most recently, she worked as a Director at the consultancy People & Performance and currently serves as a board member for Flex Wind. Reporting to CEO Thomas Bek, Stine is tasked with supporting Blue Water’s accelerating international expansion. Her mandate centers on strengthening the company’s values-based culture, driving global talent and leadership development, and optimizing recruitment and retention frameworks across the group’s worldwide offices.
HAL Allergy Group appoints Elmer Schaap as Global Head of HR and Legal
(May, 2026)
HAL Allergy Group (Netherlands/Global, a leading biopharmaceutical company specializing in allergy immunotherapy) has appointed Elmer Schaap as Global Head of HR and Legal. Elmer is a strategic HR executive with over 20 years of international experience spanning talent management, organizational design, and operating model modernization. He joins the company from Avolta, where he served as People, Culture & Organization Director from November 2023 until May 2026. Prior to that, he held senior HR leadership roles at major multinationals, including Wipro and Cognizant. In his new dual-scope role, Elmer acts as a trusted advisor to C-level leadership, overseeing global HR strategy and legal functions. His mandate focuses on driving a high-performance culture, leading multi-country workforce transformations, and leveraging AI-enabled HR processes and HRIS optimization to modernize the group’s global operating model.
Marshalls plc appoints Jo Hodge as Chief People Officer
(May, 2026)
Marshalls plc (UK/Global, a leading manufacturer of sustainable hard landscaping and building products) has appointed Jo Hodge as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Committee. Jo brings over 25 years of strategic HR experience across FMCG, logistics, financial services, and construction. She held senior leadership roles at major UK businesses including Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, JDE Peet’s, and Unipart Logistics. Alongside her executive career, she is an Advisory Board member for the BPIC Network, driving ethnic minority inclusion in the built environment. Reporting directly to CEO Simon Bourne, Jo is responsible for leading the group’s overarching people strategy. Her mandate focuses on accelerating investments in colleague development, strengthening leadership capability, and fostering a high-performing, inclusive culture to support Marshalls’ long-term business growth.
April 2026
Kiloverse appoints Indrė Kaira as Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
Kiloverse (Lithuania/Global, the digital health and tech venture hub formerly known as Kilo Health) has appointed Indrė Kaira as Chief People Officer. Indrė is a veteran HR executive and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience scaling tech startups across Europe, the US, and the Middle East. She succeeds Alina Petrulienė and joins the group after building the early-stage team at Surfshark and founding the AI-powered talent acquisition platform jobRely. Reporting to CEO Žygimantas Surintas, Indrė is responsible for leading Kiloverse’s global talent attraction and retention strategy. Her immediate mandate centers on driving corporate productivity and integrating generative AI capabilities into HR operations, ensuring the people function acts as a high-velocity catalyst for the group’s decentralized business-building and startup incubator model.
Mammoet appoints Suzanne Jungjohann as Chief Human Resources Officer
(April 1, 2026)
Mammoet (Netherlands/Global, the world’s leading engineered heavy lifting and transport company) has appointed Suzanne Jungjohann as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of its Executive Committee. Suzanne brings a strong track record in corporate organizational development and workforce strategy. She joins Mammoet from the international agricultural cooperative Cosun. Her extensive background also includes senior HR leadership roles at Dutch supermarket giant Albert Heijn, HR services leader Randstad, and financial services group NN Group. In her new role, Suzanne is responsible for scaling global competencies and refining the specialized skillset of Mammoet’s international workforce. Reporting to CEO Joost Goderie, her primary mandate is to build a unified, future-ready organization capable of matching talent capabilities with accelerating global demand across the energy, renewables, and heavy infrastructure sectors.
Nobia appoints Henriette Gabel as Chief Human Resources Officer
(April, 2026)
Nobia (Sweden/Global, the Nordic region’s largest kitchen manufacturer) has appointed Henriette Gabel as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Management Team. Henriette is an international HR executive with over 20 years of experience specializing in global cultural transformation, strategic organizational development, and executive business partnering. She joins Nobia following an extensive 18.5-year tenure at Vestas, the global wind energy leader, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global Talent Management. Her international career includes living and working across Singapore, Switzerland, Germany, and Portugal. Additionally, she has served as a board member at Trademark since 2022. Her immediate focus centers on building future-ready leadership frameworks, navigating collective labor law and union negotiations, and fostering an inclusive, high-engagement workspace to support the group’s ongoing manufacturing and commercial transformation.
evoke appoints Hayley Jones-Penny as Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
evoke (UK/Global, the betting and gaming group formerly known as 888 Holdings) has appointed Hayley Jones-Penny as Chief People Officer. Hayley is a highly experienced global HR executive with a strong track record in organizational design, cultural transformation, and M&A integration. She joins evoke from International Distribution Services (Royal Mail Group), where she served as Group HR Director and sat on the leadership team driving the business’s future-focused transformation. Prior to that, Hayley spent a decade at Britvic plc, leading the international people strategy and partnering with the executive team. In her new role, Hayley oversees evoke’s global people strategy. Her primary focus is driving a high-performance culture, optimizing talent management, and managing international organizational change to create the conditions for employees to thrive across the group’s global footprint.
FutureMeds appoints Tracie Greenhalgh as Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
FutureMeds (UK/Global, a leading European independent Decentralized Clinical Trial site network) has appointed Tracie Greenhalgh as Chief People Officer (CPO). Tracie brings over 30 years of HR experience specializing in organizational transformation and culture building within high-growth environments. She joins the company from Arden University, where she served as Chief People Officer, and previously held the role of Chief People and Culture Officer at Survitec. Reporting to CEO Dr. Radoslaw Janiak, Tracie’s appointment completes a major executive leadership restructuring at FutureMeds. In her new role, she is tasked with driving group-wide talent development, harmonizing ways of working across international site networks, and scaling the company’s people capabilities to support its rapid growth in the clinical research sector.
HELM AG appoints Anika Herrmann as EVP Global HR
(April, 2026)
HELM AG (Germany/Global, a major family-owned chemical marketing and distribution company) has appointed Anika Herrmann as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Global HR. Anika is a global HR leader and CHRO with over 15 years of experience driving organizational transformation, leadership development, and culture change across corporate and high-growth environments. She joins HELM AG from Camm Solutions, where she served as Chief HR & Sustainability Officer. Her career also includes extensive international HR leadership experience across various sectors, where she has built a reputation for designing future-ready organizations aligned with commercial growth. In her new role, Anika oversees the group’s global people strategy, partnering with the executive team to scale high-performing teams. Her focus centers on leveraging AI and digital transformation within HR to enhance data-driven decision-making and employee experience, while maintaining a strong balance between commercial performance and human connection.
Accor appoints Laurent Choain as Global Chief People & Culture Officer
(April, 2026)
Accor (France/Global, world-leading hospitality group) has appointed Laurent Choain as its new Global Chief People & Culture Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Laurent is a distinguished HR leader with more than three decades of international experience in leadership development and organizational culture. He joins Accor from Forvis Mazars, where he served for over 15 years in various senior roles, most recently as Chief Leadership, Education & Culture Officer and CEO of Mazars University. His extensive career also includes serving as Chief HR Officer at Caisse d’Epargne Group (now BPCE) and VP of Education & Development at Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. In his new role, Laurent will join the Group Management Board and sit on the Premium, Midscale & Economy Executive Committee, where he will be responsible for shaping Accor’s global talent agenda, fostering a culture of excellence, and driving continuous growth and development for the Group’s workforce across more than 110 countries.
Barclaycard Payments appoints Caroline Smith as Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
Barclaycard Payments (UK/Global, the payment processing division of Barclays) has appointed Caroline Smith as Chief People Officer. Caroline brings over 25 years of global HR leadership experience across the financial services, technology, and consumer goods sectors. She joins the company following a six-year tenure as Chief People Officer at the insurance group esure, where she orchestrated the organization’s agile workforce transformation. Her background also includes senior leadership roles at Lloyds Banking Group (as People Partner Director for Transformation & CIO), Pearson, BT, and PepsiCo. In her new role, Caroline oversees the company’s people strategy, culture, and organizational effectiveness. Reporting into the leadership team under newly appointed CEO Jason Lalor, her primary mandate is to advance workforce capabilities and drive the cultural transformation necessary to keep Barclaycard Payments competitive in a rapidly digitizing fintech landscape.
Coor appoints Silke Ernst as Communications & HR Director
(April, 2026)
Coor (Sweden/Nordics, a leading provider of facility management services in the Nordic region) has appointed Silke Ernst to the newly created, combined role of Communications & HR Director. Silke is an analytical HR leader with extensive experience driving organizational change, cultural transformation, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) across both listed and state-owned companies. She joins Coor from Toyota Material Handling Europe, where she served as Senior Vice President of HR and Corporate Communications. Her deep background also includes senior HR leadership roles at Dometic, Mycronic, and Vattenfall. In her new role, Silke joins the Executive Management Team, bringing together the company’s people, sustainability, and communications strategies. She succeeds Helena Söderberg (current HR Director), who is leaving the company, and Magdalena Öhrn (current Communications Director), who is stepping down from the executive team but remaining within the organization.
Suominen appoints Liisa Pursiheimo as Chief Human Resources Officer
(April, 2026)
Suominen (Finland/Global, a leading manufacturer of nonwovens for wipes and hygiene products) has appointed Liisa Pursiheimo as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Suominen Leadership Team. She succeeds Minna Rouru, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Liisa brings decades of international leadership experience to the role, having spent much of her career based in the United States. She joins Suominen from chemical science company SACHEM, Inc., where she served as Global Director of Human Resources for the past four years, navigating global talent initiatives across diverse markets and cultures. Reporting directly to President and CEO Charles Héaulmé, Liisa is responsible for driving group-wide human resources strategy. Her immediate mandate centers on managing global people initiatives, optimizing international stakeholder collaboration, and supporting the organization through its next phases of growth and cultural transformation.
Syspro appoints Tom Loeffert as Chief Human Resources Officer
(April, 2026)
Syspro (Global, a leading developer of purpose-built ERP software for manufacturing and distribution) has appointed Tom Loeffert as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Tom is a veteran dual UK/US national HR executive with over 25 years of global business leadership experience. He joins Syspro from fintech company Kyriba, where he also served as CHRO. His career history includes major senior HR roles at high-profile international corporations, including SAP, GSK, and Fortive. Reporting to the recently appointed CEO Leanne Taylor, Tom is tasked with leading Syspro’s global workforce strategy during a period of strong platform momentum and market expansion. His mandate focuses on scaling and transforming organizational operations in the age of AI, fostering a high-velocity culture of accountability, and building future-ready teams to sustain the company’s long-term growth.
tbi bank appoints Lucie Edwards as Group Chief People & Culture Officer
(May, 2026)
tbi bank (Southeastern Europe/Global, a leading challenger bank) has appointed Lucie Edwards as Group Chief People & Culture Officer. Lucie brings over 25 years of global HR leadership experience across the technology, telecommunications, and financial sectors. She joins the bank following her tenure as Chief People Officer at Home Credit Group in Asia. Her background also includes 12 years in senior group HR leadership roles at UniCredit Group across Milan and Vienna, as well as early-career experience building the Czech Republic’s third mobile network operator. Reporting to the executive team, Lucie is tasked with guiding the organization through its next strategic chapter following its recent acquisition by US private equity investor Advent International. Her mandate focuses on building strong leadership teams, introducing modern data-driven people practices, and driving cultural transformation across the bank’s international footprint.
Ingenico appoints Olga Damiron as Chief People & Culture Officer
(April, 2026)
Ingenico (France/Global, a market leader in payment acceptance and fintech services) has appointed Olga Damiron as Chief People & Culture Officer. Olga brings over 20 years of experience shaping people strategies for global, technology-driven organizations. She joins the company from Vantiva (formerly Technicolor), where she served as Chief People & Talent Officer. Her career also includes Chief People Officer roles at ESI Group and Algeco Scotsman. Reporting to CEO Floris de Kort, Olga is responsible for leading Ingenico’s global HR team, supporting over 3,000 colleagues across 32 countries. Her primary mandate centers on driving talent development, supporting organizational leadership, and fostering an inclusive learning environment to sustain the company’s competitive edge in financial technology.
Intersnack Group appoints Bettina Augeneder as Global Head of HR
(April, 2026)
Intersnack Group (Germany/Global, a leading European manufacturer of savory snacks, including brands like Chio, KP Snacks, and Pom-Bär) has appointed Bettina Augeneder as Global Head of HR. Bettina brings a strong track record in people-centric strategy and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) leadership, joining after a 9.5-year tenure at Coca-Cola HBC. At Coca-Cola, she most recently served as Head of Group Employee Relations & DEI. Her extensive background also includes management roles at APCOA and McDonald’s. In her new global role, Bettina oversees the people strategy for Intersnack’s workforce of approximately 15,000 employees. She is responsible for driving organizational success through authentic leadership, focusing heavily on talent development, diversity and inclusion, employee mental wellbeing, and workforce innovation across the group’s international markets.
IVC Evidensia appoints Rachel King as Group Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
IVC Evidensia (UK/Global, Europe’s largest veterinary care provider) has appointed Rachel King as Group Chief People Officer. Rachel is a highly experienced C-suite HR executive and non-executive director with a strong track record of aligning commercial operations with people strategy in complex, regulated, and high-growth sectors. She joins the company following key senior leadership tenures, including serving as Group People Director at Spire Healthcare PLC and Camelot Group, alongside senior HR roles at the BBC and the Crown Prosecution Service. Additionally, she serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Remuneration Committee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO). In her new global role, Rachel oversees the people strategy, culture, and capabilities across IVC Evidensia’s network of over 2,500 clinics. Her mandate centers on driving large-scale organizational transformation, optimizing talent management, and elevating the employee experience to support the group’s international scaling.
Optasia appoints Anne-Marie Headley as Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
Optasia (UAE/Global, a leading fintech services platform driving financial inclusion in emerging markets) has appointed Anne-Marie Headley as Chief People Officer (CPO). Anne-Marie brings over 20 years of experience partnering with founders and executive teams to build the leadership structures, people systems, and organizational capabilities required for sustainable scaling. Her extensive background includes senior HR leadership roles at tech giants Google and Cisco—where she supported a $1bn engineering group—as well as leading HR across 14 countries during Uber’s IPO preparation. She has also served as CPO at high-growth fintech platforms Salary Finance and M-KOPA, and founded Workforce Buddy, a consulting practice supporting underrepresented founders. In her new role at Optasia, Anne-Marie leads the group’s global people agenda. She is responsible for driving organizational capability and scaling HR systems across the company’s international footprint, ensuring the people strategy supports Optasia’s mission of widening access to financial services.
Optima Health appoints Lisa Dodman as Group Chief People Officer
(April, 2026)
Optima Health PLC (UK, a leading AIM-listed provider of technology-enabled occupational health and wellbeing solutions) has appointed Lisa Dodman as Group Chief People Officer. She joins the Executive Management Board, reporting directly to the Group CEO. Lisa is a versatile global CPO with extensive experience across Private Equity, PLC, and fast-paced tech environments. Operating worldwide across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, she brings a proven track record in driving cultural evolution, managing works councils, and executing complex corporate sales. In her new role, Lisa is responsible for defining and delivering the group’s overarching people strategy. She will spearhead organizational transformation and cultural integration following a major M&A agenda—including the company’s recent £100m acquisition of competitor PAM—while leveraging scalable HR technology to secure exceptional talent in a highly competitive market space.
Rubix appoints Guy Dullage as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(April, 2026)
Rubix (UK/Global, Europe’s largest industrial supplier and distributor) has appointed Guy Dullage as Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective April 20, 2026. Guy brings over 25 years of international HR leadership experience across both FTSE 250 and privately owned organizations. He joins Rubix from Greencore Group, where he served as Chief People Officer since 2018. His background also includes senior international HR roles at Johnson Controls and International Automotive Components Group, managing complex multi-country compensation strategies and operations. Reporting directly to Group CEO David Morkeberg, Guy joins the management committee to oversee group-wide HR, reward frameworks, and corporate communications. His mandate focuses on scaling talent capabilities and supporting transformation and growth across Rubix’s extensive European market operations.
March 2026
Sunlight Group appoints Eleni Drakopoulou as Chief Human Resources Officer
(March, 2026)
Sunlight Group (Greece/Global, a leading technology company specializing in integrated energy storage solutions) has appointed Eleni Drakopoulou as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Eleni is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of experience leading strategic transformations at major multinational organizations. She joins Sunlight Group from Athenian Brewery (Heineken), where she served as People Director. Her extensive career also includes significant leadership roles at Coca-Cola Hellenic, where she managed regional HR functions and cultural integrations across international markets. In her new role, Eleni is responsible for the strategic planning of talent acquisition and the strengthening of the leadership culture, aiming to foster a modern, people-centric work environment that supports Sunlight’s rapid global expansion in the lead and lithium battery sectors.
Svitzer appoints Anne Daugaard as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
Svitzer (Denmark/Global, a leading towage and marine services provider) has appointed Anne Daugaard as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Anne is an experienced HR leader with a strong background in navigating complex, global organizations within the maritime, engineering, and technology sectors. She joins Svitzer from the renewable energy company Ørsted, where she held various senior HR leadership roles, most recently serving as Head of People & Culture Global Operations. In her new role, Anne is responsible for leading Svitzer’s global people and culture organization, supporting 4,000 employees across both seafaring and shoreside operations. Her focus is on driving the “thriving people” pillar of Svitzer’s strategy, fostering a culture of sustainable growth and safety, and ensuring the 193-year-old company continues to attract and develop the specialized talent required for the evolving maritime industry.
Syensqo appoints Kerstin Artenberg as Chief People Officer
(March 1, 2026)
Syensqo (Belgium/Global, a science-based leader in specialty chemicals and materials, spun off from Solvay) has appointed Kerstin Artenberg as Chief People Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Kerstin is a highly respected HR executive with over 20 years of international experience in human resources, communications, and organizational development within global industrial sectors.She joins Syensqo from NV Bekaert, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer, leading the people strategy for a global workforce of over 20,000. Prior to that, she spent 14 years at Borealis, rising to the position of Vice President of HR and Communications. In her new role at Syensqo, Kerstin is tasked with driving the company’s “One Syensqo” culture, leading complex organizational transformations, and ensuring the people strategy supports the group’s mission of advancing humanity through scientific breakthrough and sustainable innovation.
Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) appoints Paul-Peter Feld as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
Energie Beheer Nederland (Netherlands, state-owned energy company active in the energy transition) has appointed Paul-Peter Feld as Chief People Officer. Paul-Peter is an experienced C-level executive and organizational consultant specializing in guiding stakeholders through complex transitions and meaningful change. He brings a deep background in systems-psychodynamics and cross-cultural leadership to the role. Prior to joining EBN, he spent over a decade in senior HR leadership, notably serving as Director of Human Resources & Organization at Enexis and holding key regional HR positions at Xerox and Vodafone. Grounded in a reflective and performance-oriented approach, Paul-Peter is tasked with unlocking organizational potential and navigating the human complexities of the Netherlands’ ambitious energy transition goals.
Hemnet appoints Sabina Klint as Chief People and Culture Officer
(March, 2026)
Hemnet (Sweden, the country’s largest property portal and a leading tech-driven housing platform) has appointed Sabina Klint as Chief People and Culture Officer, effective June 1, 2026. Sabina is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience building high-performing, tech-oriented organizations. She joins Hemnet from the marketing intelligence platform Funnel, where she served as Chief People Officer. Her extensive career also includes senior leadership roles at Klarna, where she was VP of Human Resources, as well as significant tenures at Electrolux and Infranord AB. In her new role, Sabina will succeed Anna Kempe and focus on scaling Hemnet’s organizational capabilities and fostering an innovative culture to deliver continued value to the Swedish property market.
IG Group appoints Louisa Meyer as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
IG Group (UK/Global, leading fintech and online trading platform) has appointed Louisa Meyer as Chief People Officer. Louisa is a commercially driven HR leader with a record of shaping high-performing people functions across the professional services, media, and technology sectors. She joins IG Group from Flutter Entertainment, where she served as Managing Director of Human Resources for the International division, leading people strategy across diverse global markets including EMEA and APAC. Her career also includes a significant tenure as Head of Human Resources for ITV. A specialist in M&A integration and enterprise transformation, Louisa is tasked with building talent strategies and leadership capabilities that serve as a competitive advantage as IG Group continues to scale its global fintech operations.
Läderach appoints Patricia-Leonie Turk as Chief Human Resources Officer
(March, 2026)
Läderach (Switzerland, premium artisanal chocolatier) has appointed Patricia-Leonie Turk as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Patricia-Leonie is a strategic human capital leader with over 15 years of experience in HR leadership and organizational transformation. She joins the family-owned chocolate company from Swarovski, where she held various senior leadership positions, most recently serving as Global Head of HR Corporate & Support Functions. A certified coach (ECA) with advanced studies in Organizational Development and Coaching from the Institut für systemische Impulse in Zürich, she is an expert in aligning HR infrastructure with commercial goals. In her new role at Läderach, she will lead the global people strategy, focusing on talent development, employee engagement, and fostering an inclusive culture to support the brand’s international boutique expansion.
Milestone Systems appoints Karina Tewes as Chief People & Culture Officer
(March, 2026)
Milestone Systems (Denmark/Global, a leading provider of data-driven video technology software) has appointed Karina Tewes as Chief People & Culture Officer (CPCO) and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Karina is an experienced HR leader with a strong track record of driving cultural transformation and organizational growth within the global technology sector. She joins Milestone Systems from Sinch, a global leader in cloud communications, where she served as Chief People Officer. Her career also includes nearly a decade at Microsoft, where she held various senior HR leadership roles across Western Europe. In her new role, Karina is responsible for leading Milestone’s global people strategy, focusing on talent development, fostering a high-performance culture, and further strengthening the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as it continues its rapid international expansion.
MOMA Group appoints Vanessa Séquier as Group HR Director
(March, 2026)
MOMA Group (France, a leading player in the Parisian hospitality and entertainment industry) has appointed Vanessa Séquier as Group HR Director. Vanessa is a highly experienced HR leader with over 15 years of experience partnering with CEOs and Executive Committees in international groups to drive organizational transformation and governance. She joins MOMA Group from LVMH, where she spent over a decade in senior HR leadership roles, most recently as HR Director for Moët Hennessy (Middle East) and previously within the Celine and Kenzo fashion houses. In her new role, she is responsible for building a robust and agile HR organization to support the group’s rapid growth and operational excellence, focusing on talent acquisition, leadership development, and bringing structural clarity to the group’s diverse portfolio of restaurants and event spaces.
OPEN Health appoints Cara Priest as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
OPEN Health (UK/Global, a leading multidisciplinary health communications and market access agency) has appointed Cara Priest as Chief People Officer. Cara is a highly strategic and commercially-minded HR leader with extensive experience in the healthcare communications and pharmaceutical services sectors. She joins OPEN Health from IPG Health, where she served as Chief Talent Officer for EMEA, leading the people strategy for some of the world’s most awarded healthcare marketing agencies. Her background also includes senior HR roles at McCann Health and Syneos Health. In her new role, Cara is responsible for driving the global people agenda across OPEN Health’s diverse practice areas, focusing on talent development, fostering a culture of collaboration, and ensuring the organization remains a top destination for specialist talent in the medical affairs and market access space.
Papaya Global appoints Noa Brummer as Chief Human Resources Officer
(March, 2026)
Papaya Global (Israel/Global, a leading automated global payroll and payments platform) has appointed Noa Brummer as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Noa is a highly experienced HR executive with a strong background in scaling high-growth technology companies and managing global workforces. She joins Papaya Global from Applied Materials, where she served as Head of HR for Israel, overseeing the people strategy for one of the company’s largest R&D and manufacturing hubs. Her career also includes significant HR leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). In her new role, Noa is responsible for leading Papaya Global’s internal people operations and culture, leveraging her expertise in organizational development and talent management to support the company’s mission of transforming how global organizations hire, pay, and manage people across borders.
QIMA appoints David Wayne as Chief Human Resources Officer
(March, 2026)
QIMA (Hong Kong/Global, a leading provider of supply chain compliance and quality control solutions) has appointed David Wayne as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). David is a strategic HR leader with a deep background in scaling high-growth technology and global service organizations. He joins QIMA from the digital media measurement platform DoubleVerify, where he served as Vice President of Human Resources, overseeing global people operations and talent strategy. His prior experience includes HR leadership roles at Adobe, LoopMe, and Universal Pictures. In his new role at QIMA, David is responsible for leading the people function across more than 100 countries, focusing on strengthening the company’s mission-driven culture and driving performance at scale to support QIMA’s vital role in global trade safety and compliance.
Rothesay appoints Caren Gray as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
Rothesay (UK, the largest specialist insurer of defined benefit pension schemes) has appointed Caren Gray as Chief People Officer. Caren is a highly accomplished HR leader with over 25 years of experience in global financial services and investment management. She joins Rothesay from the global hedge fund Eisler Capital, where she served as Chief People Officer. Her distinguished career includes a long tenure at Nomura, where she was Managing Director and Global Head of HR for the Wholesale Division, overseeing complex, multi-jurisdictional operations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. At Rothesay, Caren is responsible for evolving the group’s talent strategy, fostering an inclusive high-performance culture, and aligning the people function with the company’s mission of ensuring long-term security for its policyholders through operational excellence and innovative risk management.
Chaberton Partners appoints Monica Magri as Group CHRO
(March, 2026)
Chaberton Partners (Switzerland/Global, international management consulting and executive search firm) has appointed Monica Magri as Group Chief Human Resources Officer. Monica is a highly experienced HR leader with a career spanning over 25 years, characterized by her expertise in organizational transformation and leadership development within complex, international environments. She joins Chaberton Partners from The Adecco Group, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for Italy and Iberia for nearly a decade. Her extensive background also includes senior HR leadership roles at Ferrero and Heineken. In her new role, Monica is responsible for leading the group’s global people strategy, focusing on talent acquisition, performance management, and the evolution of the corporate culture to support Chaberton Partners’ continued expansion into new markets and service lines.
Squirrel appoints Carmen Arévalo Titos as Corporate Human Resources Director
(March, 2026)
Squirrel Media (Spain/Global, an Entertainment Tech group listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange, BME: SQRL) has appointed Carmen Arévalo Titos as Corporate Human Resources Director. Carmen is a strategic People Executive with a proven track record of leading business and culture transformations across complex, international organizations. She joins Squirrel Media following a significant tenure at Vueling, where she served as Director of People & Culture Operations and Development, leading digital culture shifts and workforce transformations. Her background also includes senior HR roles at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Schneider Electric. In her new role, Carmen serves as the CHRO leading the People & Culture strategy to accelerate Squirrel Media’s rapid growth. She is responsible for driving organizational development, talent management, and HR transformation across the group’s four core business areas: Advertising, Content, Media, and Technology.
CityFibre appoints Ana Higgs as Chief People Officer
(March, 2026)
CityFibre (UK, the nation’s largest independent Full Fibre platform) has appointed Ana Higgs as Chief People Officer. Ana is a highly experienced people leader with 15 years of expertise in global organizational development and transformation within high-growth and private-equity-backed technology sectors. She joins CityFibre from her own consultancy, JP&Co, where she advised fast-scaling organizations on leadership effectiveness and organizational design. Previously, she served as Chief People Officer at Preqin, a global leader in data and SaaS for alternative assets, where she played a pivotal role in the company’s rapid international expansion and its successful acquisition by BlackRock. In her new role at CityFibre, Ana is responsible for leading the people function and driving the organizational strategy necessary to support the company’s mission of transforming the UK’s digital infrastructure.
Alleima appoints Maria Reinholdsson as EVP and Head of Human Resources
(March, 2026)
Alleima (Sweden/Global, a leading manufacturer of advanced stainless steels, special alloys, and industrial heating solutions) has appointed Maria Reinholdsson as Executive Vice President and Head of Human Resources. Maria will also join the Alleima Group Executive Management team.She brings extensive global HR leadership experience to the role, joining the company from Stockholm Exergi, where she served as Head of Human Resources and Sustainability. Her distinguished career also includes a tenure as Head of Human Resources and Communications at the Swedish mining company LKAB. Based in Stockholm, Maria succeeds Ulrika Dunker, who stepped down after six years in the position. In her new role, Maria is tasked with elevating Alleima’s global people and culture initiatives, strengthening organizational capabilities, and supporting the Nasdaq Stockholm-listed company’s continued international growth journey.
February 2026
ROCKWOOL Group appoints Pernille Fritz Vilhelmsen as Executive VP & CHRO
(February, 2026)
ROCKWOOL Group (Denmark/Global, world leader in stone wool solutions) has appointed Pernille Fritz Vilhelmsen as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Pernille is a results-oriented executive with a proven track record of aligning people strategy with financial performance and business acceleration. She joins ROCKWOOL following a highly successful tenure at Hempel A/S, where she served as Executive Vice President & Chief People & Culture Officer and played a pivotal role in the company’s “Double Impact” growth strategy. Her extensive international background also includes nearly a decade at Maersk Line, where she held various senior leadership positions both within and outside the HR function. In her new role, she is tasked with leading ROCKWOOL’s global people and talent strategies, with a relentless focus on building high-performance organizational capabilities to support the group’s sustainability and growth ambitions.
Terveystalo appoints Hilppa Rautpalo as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Terveystalo (Finland, the largest private health service provider in the Nordic region) has appointed Hilppa Rautpalo as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Team. Hilppa is a seasoned HR executive with a strong legal background and extensive experience in demanding leadership roles within large Finnish corporations. She joins Terveystalo from Huhtamäki, where she served as Executive Vice President of People and Culture. Her prior experience includes serving as CHRO at Arctia Ltd and holding various senior HR and legal positions at Nokia and Pöyry. In her new role, she will lead the people strategy for Terveystalo’s workforce of over 16,800 professionals, focusing on strengthening the employer brand, professional development, and organizational efficiency.
Tonies appoints Bonnie Samuels as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Tonies (Germany/Global, international leader in screen-free audio entertainment for children) has appointed Bonnie Samuels as Chief Human Resources Officer. Bonnie is a highly accomplished HR executive with extensive experience in the high-growth technology and consumer sectors. She joins Tonies from Zalando, where she spent several years in senior leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of People & Culture. Her background also includes significant experience at Google and The Walt Disney Company, where she held various HR management positions across Europe and the US. In her new role at Tonies, she is responsible for leading the global people strategy, focusing on scaling the organization’s culture, talent development, and organizational design to support its continued international expansion and innovation in the children’s media space.
National Grid appoints Emma Hardaker-Jones as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
National Grid (UK/US, global energy transmission and distribution leader) has appointed Emma Hardaker-Jones as Chief People Officer. Joining the executive team under new CEO Zoe Yujnovich, Emma is responsible for leading the global people function and driving the workforce transformation essential to the energy transition. She joins from Legal & General (L&G), where she served as Group HR Director under both Sir Nigel Wilson and António Simões. An advocate for leadership development, she is currently completing advanced studies at INSEAD. In her new role, Emma will focus on embedding a “people-first” culture and shaping strategic priorities to ensure the organization remains at the heart of the evolving energy system.
Outokumpu appoints Anouk de Graaf as EVP – People, Sustainability & Corporate Relations
(February, 2026)
Outokumpu (Finland, global leader in sustainable stainless steel) appoints Anouk de Graaf as Executive Vice President – People, Sustainability & Corporate Relations and a member of the Leadership Team. Anouk will be based in the Netherlands and report to CEO Kati ter Horst. She will be instrumental in executing the company’s “EVOLVE” strategy, focusing on strategic human resources and change management to support transformation and growth. She joins Outokumpu from Borealis, where she served as Vice President, Global People and Culture Business Partners. Her extensive international career also includes senior HR leadership and management roles at DSM and Philips. She holds an MBA and is recognized as a business-driven leader with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Perutnina Ptuj Group appoints Marija Felkel as Group HR Director
(February, 2026)
Perutnina Ptuj Group (Slovenia/Croatia, the leading poultry producer in Southeast Europe) has appointed Marija Felkel as Group HR Director and Member of the Executive Board. Marija is a highly regarded HR thought leader with over 25 years of international experience in high-tech and innovative industries. She joins from Nomad Foods, where she served as Adriatic Cluster HR Director, leading the transformation of regional brands like Ledo and Frikom. Her distinguished career includes serving as a Board Member and CHRO at Hrvatski Telekom (HT Group) and holding senior leadership roles at Siemens. A recipient of the “HR Manager of the Year” award in Croatia, she is an expert in digital/agile organizational design and human-centered strategy. In her new role, she will focus on strengthening organizational structures and driving business performance across all markets where the Group operates.
Fotona® appoints Tjaša Amon as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Fotona® (Slovenia/USA, world-leading medical laser manufacturer) has appointed Tjaša Amon as Chief Human Resources Officer. Tjaša brings over 15 years of international HR leadership experience, specializing in guiding organizations through large-scale transformations, including acquisitions, spin-offs, and organizational redesigns. She joins the firm following a successful tenure as Head of Human Resources for the Adria region at Henkel, where she managed comprehensive people strategies across multiple markets. Known for her focus on transparency and adaptability, Tjaša will lead Fotona’s global people agenda, focusing on strengthening leadership capabilities and fostering a resilient, innovative culture to support the company’s ongoing global expansion and technological evolution.
IFGL appoints Helen Thornton as Chief People and Culture Officer
(February, 2026)
International Financial Group Limited (IFGL) (Isle of Man, owner of brands including Ardan and Friends Provident International) has appointed Helen Thornton as Chief People and Culture Officer and a member of the Executive Team. In this role, she leads the group’s global people strategy with a focus on enhancing the colleague and customer experience during a period of significant growth. Helen brings a wealth of senior leadership experience from various sectors, having previously served as Chief People Officer at IWP UK, UK People Director at Lowell, and Group HR Director at Cognita Schools and International Personal Finance. Her career also includes senior HR roles at National Express, GNER, and British Airways.
Maintel appoints Rachel Cox as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Maintel (UK, leading provider of cloud communications, connectivity, and security managed services) has appointed Rachel Cox as Chief People Officer. Joining during a period of business transformation, Rachel is responsible for developing the company’s people strategy and leadership programs. She brings extensive experience from the technology and renewable energy sectors, having most recently served as Chief People Officer at Low Carbon Contracts Company. Her background also includes leadership roles as VP of People, Culture & Talent at Liberis and interim CPO at Delta Capita. Rachel is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and serves as a Strategic Advisory Board member at Loughborough University Business School.
Bekaert appoints Anthony Huyghebaert as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Bekaert (Belgium/Global, world market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coating technologies) has appointed Anthony Huyghebaert as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Based at the company’s headquarters in Belgium, Anthony leads the global HR strategy for an organization of approximately 24,000 employees. Anthony is a seasoned senior executive with over 20 years of experience in human resources, characterized by a strong track record in driving transformation within complex matrix environments. He joins Bekaert from Vesuvius, where he served as Chief Human Resources Officer for over five years, overseeing global HR operations from London. His extensive international pedigree includes nearly 15 years at TE Connectivity, where he held various leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including VP of HR for Industrial Solutions and EMEA.
Canopius Group appoints Adrian Phipps as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Canopius Group (UK/Global, leading global specialty and P&C re-insurer) has appointed Adrian Phipps as Chief People Officer, effective June 2026. Reporting to Group CEO Neil Robertson, Adrian succeeds the retiring Barbara Turner to lead the firm’s global people strategy and the execution of its newly launched “Talent Manifesto.” He joins from the luxury travel company Secret Escapes, where he served as CPO. His extensive background also includes significant HR leadership tenures at Arqiva as People Director and RSA as HR Director for UK Personal Insurance. In his new role, he will focus on talent development and cultural evolution to support the group’s continued international growth.
Croud appoints Julia Dell as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Croud (UK/Global, digital marketing agency) has appointed Julia Dell as Chief People Officer (CPO) to support its next phase of global growth following investment from ECI Partners. Julia, who had been working with the agency in an interim capacity for several months, joins the permanent leadership team alongside new CFO Jeremy Summerfield. She brings over 25 years of experience in leading people strategy and organizational transformation for international, data-driven, and creative businesses. Her extensive background includes senior HR and consulting roles at several major media and technology organizations, including Channel 4, Channel 5, Deluxe Entertainment, Viacom, and Yahoo. In her role at Croud, she is responsible for fostering a transparent culture, developing clear career pathways, and strengthening talent development across the firm’s global offices.
Eramet appoints Laetitia Brun as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Eramet (France, global mining and metals group) has appointed Laetitia Brun as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Committee, effective February 9, 2026. She succeeds Anne-Marie Le Maignan, who is retiring after over two decades with the Group. Laetitia is a seasoned HR executive with more than 20 years of international experience across the chemicals, metallurgy, and infrastructure sectors. She joins Eramet from Seqens, where she served as Group CHRO. Her extensive career also includes 15 years at Rhodia and Solvay in various HR leadership roles, followed by tenures as Group CHRO at Winoa and leadership positions at Getlink. She has held leadership roles in France, Belgium, and the UK, specializing in leading transformation programs within complex, multicultural organizations.
Faria Education Group appoints Rebecca Richardson as Global VP of People
(February, 2026)
Faria Education Group (Global, leading provider of integrated systems for international schools) has appointed Rebecca Richardson as Global VP of People. Rebecca is a strategic HR leader with over 10 years of international experience in building and scaling high-impact people functions across the UK, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. She joins from BlueBeat Group and OrcaNation, where she served as Chief People Officer, aligning organizational design with growth objectives and fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures. Her expertise includes driving transformation through global HRMS implementations, M&A integrations, and cultural change initiatives. In her new role at Faria, she will act as a trusted advisor to leadership, focusing on sustainable people practices and organizational resilience to support the group’s global scale.
Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A. appoints Alessandro Crippa as CHRO
(February, 2026)
Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A. (Italy, leading independent contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals) has appointed Alessandro Crippa as Chief Human Resources Officer. Alessandro joins the organization following a distinguished 17-year tenure at Campari Group, where he held several high-level leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior HR Director for the SEMEA region (Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa). His extensive background at Campari included managing HR for global industrial operations and overseeing complex headquarters and commercial business units. A proponent of “Humanistic Management,” Alessandro brings over 20 years of HR expertise to Fine Foods, where he will partner with the executive team to drive organizational development and cultural integration during the company’s next phase of growth.
Automobili Lamborghini appoints Douglas Arrighi Pereira as Chief Human Resources Officer
(February, 2026)
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Italy, luxury super sports car manufacturer) has appointed Douglas Arrighi Pereira as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective March 1, 2026. He joins the automotive brand from the Volkswagen Group, where he most recently served as the HR Director for Volkswagen Group Italy. Pereira brings over 20 years of experience within the Volkswagen Group, having held various leadership positions in Brazil, Germany, and Italy, including senior HR roles at Audi. In his new role at Lamborghini, he succeeds Umberto Tossini and will be responsible for overseeing the company’s global people strategy, focusing on talent development, organizational culture, and the “Direzione Cor Tauri” electrification strategy, which impacts the brand’s workforce transformation.
Backbase appoints Jodi Slomp as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Backbase (Netherlands/Global, leader in AI-powered banking technology) has appointed Jodi Slomp as Chief People Officer (CPO). Jodi joins the company during a strategic transition toward AI-native operations, where she will lead the global people and talent strategy across regional hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, and Singapore. She brings a wealth of experience in scaling high-growth fintech and technology companies. She most recently led the People function at Mollie, one of Europe’s fastest-growing payment processors. Prior to that, she held senior strategic talent and HR leadership roles at Booking.com, contributing to their global expansion. Her mandate at Backbase includes modernizing people systems and building the leadership capability required to support the company’s mission of revolutionizing digital banking through AI.
Banqup Group appoints Wim Focquet as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Banqup Group (Belgium/Global, leading SaaS platform for e-invoicing and digital financial workflows) has appointed Wim Focquet as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Executive Committee. In this role, Wim is responsible for leading the global HR organization, focusing on aligning culture with strategy, strengthening ownership, and attracting the talent necessary to support Banqup’s transition into a pure-play SaaS provider. Wim is a highly experienced HR leader and academic with over 25 years of experience in organizational transformation and leadership development. He joins from his role as Academic Director for HR and Talent Management at IE Business School in Madrid. His extensive corporate background includes serving as the Human Resources & CSR Director for DPD Belux and holding senior international HR leadership positions at TNT Express.
Achmea appoints Dick Eijgenraam as Group Director of Human Resources
(February, 2026)
Achmea (Netherlands, leading insurance provider) has appointed Dick Eijgenraam as Group Director of Human Resources (CHRO), effective February 1, 2026. He succeeds Wim Janssens, who held the position on an interim basis. Dick brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, joining from Nationale-Nederlanden (NN Group), where he served as HR Director for the past three and a half years. His extensive background includes various senior HR executive roles at Ahold and an early career as an HR consultant at GITP. In his new role, he will oversee the group’s people strategy and organizational development.
The LEGO Group appoints Danielle van den Broek as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
The LEGO Group has appointed Danielle (Daan) van den Broek as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective April 1, 2026. In this role, she will join the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to CEO Niels B. Christiansen, and will oversee the company’s global “People, Places, and Culture” organization. Danielle joined the LEGO Group in early 2025 as Senior Vice President of Talent, having previously spent 27 years at Unilever in various international HR leadership roles, most recently as CHRO for Global Personal Care. A seasoned global executive, she succeeds Loren I. Shuster and will be responsible for driving the people strategy, culture, and organizational development for the Group’s 28,000+ employees worldwide.
Aer Lingus appoints Tara Flynn as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Aer Lingus (Ireland, national airline and member of IAG) has appointed Tara Flynn as Chief People Officer. In this executive role, Tara leads the airline’s people and culture agenda, overseeing workforce strategy, industrial relations, and talent development to support Aer Lingus’ international growth across Europe and North America. She joins from Glen Dimplex, where she served as Group Chief People & IT Officer, leading enterprise-wide transformation and organizational modernization. Her extensive HR leadership background includes serving as Group HR Director at Coillte, Director at WTW (Willis Risk Services Ireland), and senior roles at Mercer, Scottish Provident, and Ulster Bank. Tara holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and a diploma in Corporate Law & Governance from the Law Society of Ireland.
Warburtons appoints Samantha Thomas-Berry as Chief People Officer
(February, 2026)
Warburtons (UK, the nation’s largest family-owned bakery brand) has appointed Samantha Thomas-Berry as Chief People Officer. Samantha is a pragmatic and authentic HR leader with over 25 years of experience across the FMCG, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. She joins the iconic Bolton-based bakery following a distinguished 18-year career at Kellanova (formerly Kellogg Company), where she most recently served as Vice President of Global Talent & Chief Diversity Officer. A Fellow of the CIPD and a business graduate, Samantha is recognized for her coaching leadership style and her ability to deliver commercial success through strategic people initiatives. At Warburtons, she is responsible for leading the people function across the company’s network of bakeries and depots, focusing on organizational flexibility, talent development, and maintaining the strong values-based culture of the family business.
January 2026
CluePoints appoints Sinead Godkin as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
CluePoints (USA/Belgium, leading provider of AI-driven Risk-Based Quality Management software for clinical trials) has appointed Sinead Godkin as its new Chief People Officer (CPO). In this role, she will lead the company’s global people strategy and organizational evolution as it scales internationally, following a year of significant expansion in which the company recruited over 100 new team members. Sinead is a veteran HR executive with deep experience in scaling private equity-backed technology firms. She joins from DigiCert, where she served as CPO and oversaw enterprise-wide people transformation during periods of rapid acquisition and growth. Her prior leadership experience includes senior roles at Veritas Technologies and Symantec, where she developed expertise in managing complex, multinational workforce strategies.
Groupe Barrière appoints Charlotte Gauvin as Group HR Director
(January, 2026)
Groupe Barrière (France, luxury hotel and casino leader) has appointed Charlotte Gauvin as Group Human Resources Director. A specialist in human resources within the hospitality and retail sectors, she joins the group from LVMH, where she served as Human Resources Director for the iconic Samaritaine department store since 2019. Previously, she held senior HR leadership roles at Sephora and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. In her new capacity at Barrière, she will be responsible for overseeing the people strategy for the group’s 7,000 employees across its international network of casinos, luxury hotels, and restaurants, focusing on talent development and the modernization of the group’s HR organizational model.
Moventia appoints Josefa Solanilla as Corporate People Director
(January, 2026)
Moventia (Spain, international leader in sustainable mobility) has appointed Josefa Solanilla as Corporate People Director. Josefa is a bilingual C-Level executive with over 20 years of experience leading organizational strategy and international expansion across Europe, LATAM, and the U.S. She joins from Logisfashion, where she led people strategy for global logistics operations serving major lifestyle brands such as Inditex, H&M, and Ferragamo. A specialist in post-M&A integration and large-scale digital transformation, she is also a Senior Advisor and People & Talent Committee Director at Women in Retail (WiR), a professional network dedicated to advancing leadership and gender equity within the industry. In her new role, she is tasked with transforming HR into a strategic driver for Moventia’s global growth, focusing on human capital development and complex change management.
Barentz appoints Caroline van Nieuwkerk as Chief Human Resource Officer
(January, 2026)
Barentz (Netherlands/Global, life science ingredients distributor) has appointed Caroline van Nieuwkerk as Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). In this newly created global role, Caroline leads the company’s People and Culture agenda, focusing on organizational development and large-scale transformation. She is a seasoned business leader with over 30 years of experience in commercial global organizations, joining from Royal Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group, where she served as CHRO for over six years. Her expertise spans M&A integration, leadership development, and change management, with a proven track record of building international HR teams in versatile, fast-paced environments.
dsm-firmenich appoints Nikeisha van Sleeuwen as Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
dsm-firmenich (Switzerland/Netherlands, innovator in nutrition, health, and beauty) has appointed Nikeisha (Nikki) van Sleeuwen as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective April 1, 2026. Reporting directly to CEO Dimitri de Vreeze, she joins the Executive Committee to succeed Mieke Van de Capelle, who is retiring. Nikki currently serves as the company’s SVP of Talent & Culture and Global Rewards and has spent nearly 20 years at the firm. A Jamaican-American national with extensive leadership experience in both the US and Europe, she previously served as SVP HR for the Animal Nutrition & Health business. She holds academic degrees from Ramapo College of New Jersey and Cornell ILR.
Ermenegildo Zegna Group appoints Alessandro Paparelli as Group Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Ermenegildo Zegna Group (Italy, global luxury group) has appointed Alessandro Paparelli as Group Chief People Officer. In this role, he leads the global people and organization strategy for the group’s three iconic brands—ZEGNA, Thom Browne, and Tom Ford Fashion. Alessandro is a highly distinguished HR executive in the luxury sector, joining from Kering, where he spent nine years as Regional HR Director for Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong. His extensive background also includes nearly a decade at Ferragamo, where he served as Group HR Director, and prior roles at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. His appointment is a key pillar of Zegna’s new 2026 leadership framework, focused on strengthening global integration and cultural transformation as the fourth generation of the Zegna family takes the helm.
Aleph Alpha appoints Lucie Prinz as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Aleph Alpha (Germany, industrial generative AI) has appointed Lucie Prinz as Chief People Officer (CPO), effective January 1, 2026. Lucie brings two decades of international experience in people, culture, and organizational leadership within complex, regulated, and high-change environments. She joins from Volocopter, where she also served as CPO. Throughout her career, she has led global organizations through rapid growth and transformation, focusing on building high-performing teams from blue-collar roles to the C-suite. At Aleph Alpha, she succeeds Benjamin Oppl, who has transitioned into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).
BioNTech appoints Kylie Jimenez to Management Board as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
BioNTech SE (Germany/Global, immunotherapy and biotechnology) has appointed Kylie Jimenez as Chief People Officer (CPO) and a member of the Management Board, effective March 1, 2026. In this newly created board role, Kylie will lead BioNTech’s global people strategy as the company works toward becoming a multi-product oncology company by 2030. She joins from Georg Fischer, where she served as global Chief Human Resources Officer. Her 20-year career also includes executive HR roles at Toyota, and various leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson and General Mills. Based in Mainz, she will focus on scaling the organization, attracting top talent, and fostering an inclusive corporate culture.
Club Med appoints Bertrand Austruy as Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
Club Med (France/Global, premium all-inclusive vacations) has appointed Bertrand Austruy as Director General of Human Resources (CHRO). Reporting to CEO Henri Giscard d’Estaing and joining the leadership team under Stephane Maquaire, Bertrand will oversee the people strategy for 30,000 employees (G.Os and G.Es) across the brand’s global resorts. He joins from Ardabelle Capital, an impact fund he co-founded. Previously, he spent 20 years at Danone, where he held various senior executive roles, including General Secretary and member of the Executive Committee, working closely with former CEOs Antoine Riboud and Emmanuel Faber. His focus at Club Med is to strengthen the brand’s pioneering culture and human-centric values as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
CPM.Partners appoints Julia Sophia Sander as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
CPM.Partners (Switzerland/Global, Corporate Performance Management advisory) has appointed Julia Sophia Sander as Chief People Officer. Based in Zurich, she is responsible for leading the firm’s global people and culture agenda, focusing on talent strategy, HR transformation, and organizational development. Julia joins from Deloitte Switzerland, where she spent nearly five years in senior leadership roles, including Head of HR Operations and HR Technology & Transformation Manager. Her extensive background also includes HR roles at Bayer, The Adecco Group, and DSJ Global. She specializes in scaling HR operations and implementing international systems to support growth in the specialized advisory and solutions landscape.
HENSOLDT appoints Inka Tews as Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
HENSOLDT AG (Germany, global defense electronics and sensor solutions) has appointed Inka Tews as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective May 1, 2026. She joins the Executive Board with responsibility for the global HR organization, facility management, corporate security, and sustainability. Inka brings over 25 years of experience in human resources at international technology firms, most recently as Senior Vice President of HR at Infineon Technologies. She succeeds Lars Immisch, who is stepping down for health reasons. Her expertise in post-merger integration and organizational development will be central to HENSOLDT’s current phase of rapid international scaling and growth.
Huhtamaki appoints Katariina Kravi as Chief People & Culture Officer
(January, 2026)
Huhtamaki (Finland/Global, sustainable packaging solutions) has appointed Katariina Kravi as Chief People & Culture Officer and member of the Global Executive Team, effective January 1, 2026. Katariina is a seasoned HR executive with over 25 years of experience in global industrial and technology sectors. She joins from Stora Enso, where she served as Executive Vice President of People & Communications for five years. Her extensive career also includes seven years as EVP of HR at Tieto Oyj and 15 years in various HR leadership roles at Nokia. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board at Elisa Oyj and holds an LL.M. degree. At Huhtamaki, she will focus on strengthening the organization’s culture and talent development as part of its 2030 growth strategy.
idverde appoints Lionel Beylier as Group Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
idverde (France/Global, leader in green environmental services) has appointed Lionel Beylier to the newly created role of Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and member of the Group Executive Committee. Lionel brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience within fast-growing global organizations, including Holcim, Ingenico, Worldline, HP, and Schneider Electric. He has a specialized track record in organizational transformation and M&A integration across Europe and Asia. In his new role, he will partner with Group CEO Francois Gilbart to lead the people strategy for idverde’s 10,000 employees, focusing on leadership, culture, and talent development to support the company’s continued European consolidation.
ITA Airways appoints Mario De Gennaro as Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
ITA Airways (Italy, national flag carrier) has appointed Mario De Gennaro as Chief Human Resources Officer. A seasoned executive with over 30 years of international experience, Mario joins the airline during a pivotal period of integration and growth. He most recently served as Chief HR & Legal Officer at Natuzzi. His extensive leadership background includes senior roles such as SVP HR, IT & Legal at Seda International Packaging Group, Managing Director & CHRO at Cementir Holding, and several years in regional HR leadership at Unilever. At ITA Airways, he will be responsible for overseeing the people strategy, industrial relations, and organizational development as the carrier continues to expand its global footprint and workforce.
Kemira appoints Ulrika Dunker as EVP People & Culture
(January, 2026)
Kemira Oyj (Finland/Global, sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries) has appointed Ulrika Dunker as Executive Vice President, People & Culture, and a member of the Group Leadership Team, effective January 1, 2026. Reporting to President and CEO Antti Salminen, she succeeds Eeva Salonen, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than 15 years in the role. Ulrika joins from Alleima, where she served as EVP HR and a member of the Executive Management Team. Her extensive HR leadership background includes senior roles at Ramirent, Sandvik, and the Stockholm Opera, with a strong focus on organizational transformation and cultural development.
Laing O’Rourke appoints Wayne Davies as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Laing O’Rourke (United Kingdom/Global, international engineering and construction) has appointed Wayne Davies as Chief People Officer, effective January 12, 2026. In this group-wide role, he joins the Group Executive Committee to lead the company’s global people strategy, focusing on talent pipeline development, inclusion, and organizational transformation. Wayne brings an extensive international background across manufacturing, aviation, and infrastructure, including a 15-year tenure with General Electric in various global HR leadership roles. He previously served as head of HR for Emirates Airline, led HR for a major Middle Eastern Giga project, and most recently served as CHRO for a private equity-backed services firm.
Nordic Capital appoints Grant Eldred as Partner and Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
Nordic Capital Advisors (Sweden/Global, international private equity investor) has appointed Grant Eldred as Partner and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Based in London, Grant will be responsible for shaping and driving the firm’s global people strategy, ensuring alignment between talent, culture, and organizational performance. He joins from Rokos Capital Management, where he served as Partner and Head of People. With over 20 years of experience in financial and professional services, his background includes serving as Chief People Officer at Clifford Chance and spending 15 years at Goldman Sachs in senior roles such as Global Head of HR Transformation.
Oakley Capital appoints Kerry Heaton as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Oakley Capital (United Kingdom/Global, pan-European private equity investor) has appointed Kerry Heaton as its new Chief People Officer (CPO). Kerry will lead the firm’s people strategy across its European offices and portfolio, focusing on leadership capability, talent architecture, and culture. She joins from Hg, where she served as CPO for nearly four years, leading the people strategy for one of Europe’s most active software and services investors. Her extensive background includes over 15 years at HSBC in senior global roles, such as Global Head of Executive Talent and Global Head of Learning & Talent Development. Additionally, Kerry serves on the Parliamentary Steering Committee for Modernising Employment (MODE APPG) and is a founding member of Nexus.
Ørsted appoints Simon Ashley as Chief HR Officer
(January, 2026)
Ørsted (Denmark/Global, world leader in offshore wind) has appointed Simon Ashley as its next Chief HR Officer (CHRO) and member of the Group Executive Team, effective August 1, 2026. He will succeed Henriette Fenger Ellekrog, who is concluding her executive career. Simon is an experienced global HR leader who currently serves as Ørsted’s Head of Global HR Business Partnering. He joined Ørsted in 2021 from Shell, where he spent over 15 years in senior international HR roles, including leadership positions based in London, Singapore, and the Netherlands. His expertise lies in driving organizational performance and culture in large-scale energy and infrastructure businesses.
OVO Energy appoints Tom Whittle as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
OVO Energy (United Kingdom, leading energy technology company) has appointed Tom Whittle as Chief People Officer, effective January 5, 2026. In this role, Tom leads OVO’s people strategy, organizational transformation, and digital HR agenda, supporting the company’s “Plan Zero” sustainability mission. He joins from HSBC, where he spent nearly a decade in senior global leadership roles, most recently as Managing Director, COO – People Governance & Communications. His background at HSBC also includes serving as Global Head of HR for Finance and Wholesale operations. Previously, Tom spent several years at Deloitte, where he specialized in HR strategy and operating model transformation for global clients across the pharmaceutical and financial sectors.
RELEX Solutions appoints Lotta Vuoristo as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
RELEX Solutions (Finland/Global, AI-powered supply chain and retail planning platform) has appointed Lotta Vuoristo as Chief People Officer. Based in Helsinki, she will lead the company’s global people strategy, culture, and organizational transformation as it continues its rapid international expansion. She joins from Rovio Entertainment, where she served as Chief People Officer, leading global people and communications strategy. Her extensive background includes leadership roles at KONE, where she served as Head of Culture Journey and spearheaded large-scale global change management initiatives. Lotta holds a Ph.D. from the Hanken School of Economics and brings a unique blend of academic rigor and corporate transformation expertise.
Sana Kliniken appoints Dr. Ralph Wiechers as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Sana Kliniken AG (Germany, leading integrated healthcare provider) has appointed Dr. Ralph Wiechers as Chief People Officer (CPO) and Labor Director, effective January 1, 2026. In this role, he joins the Executive Board and is responsible for the people strategy, labor relations, and HR operations for more than 40,000 employees. He succeeds Konstanze Marinoff and is tasked with advancing the largest HR transformation in the German healthcare sector, focusing on digitalization and data-driven HR platforms. Dr. Wiechers joins from DHL Group, where he spent 15 years in senior leadership, most recently as Executive Vice President, Head of Global People Operations. His previous experience includes tenure at McKinsey & Company and co-founding NOHETO! GmbH. He holds a doctorate in Economics and Business Science.
Sanoma appoints Kaisa Aalto-Luoto as Chief Human Resources Officer
(January, 2026)
Sanoma Oyj (Finland/Europe, innovative learning and media group) has appointed Kaisa Aalto-Luoto as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective no later than July 1, 2026. This appointment marks a return to the company for Kaisa, who previously served as CHRO for Sanoma Media Finland. She joins from Finnair, where she has held the position of CHRO since October 2023. Her extensive leadership background also includes senior HR roles at Outotec and Mandatum Life. Based in Helsinki, she succeeds Jelena Šutić, who is leaving to pursue a career in executive advisory. At Sanoma, Kaisa will oversee the people strategy for an organization of nearly 5,000 professionals across Europe.
S-Bank appoints Anu Nurro as EVP Human Resources
(January, 2026)
S-Bank Plc (Finland, banking and financial services) has appointed Anu Nurro (MA) as Executive Vice President, Human Resources, and a member of the Group Management Team, effective March 1, 2026. Anu brings extensive HR leadership experience from the retail and logistics sectors, joining from Posti Group, where she served as Vice President of HR. She previously held various HR leadership roles at SOK (S Group). At S-Bank, she will lead the people strategy and organizational development during a period of digital transformation and growth for the bank.
Swissport International AG appoints Toygan Pulat as Chief People Officer
(January 12, 2026)
Swissport International AG (Switzerland/Global, world’s leading provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling) has appointed Toygan Pulat as Chief People Officer, reporting directly to CEO Warwick Brady. Toygan brings over 25 years of global HR leadership experience to the role. She joins from Beko, where she was Chief People Officer, overseeing a workforce of 50,000 employees across 58 countries and leading significant cultural and talent transformations. Her impressive career also includes leadership roles at major multinationals such as Diageo, Coty, Avon, and Carlsberg, with experience spanning the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East/Africa, and the Americas. An Industrial Engineer by training with an MBA and advanced HR studies from Canada, Toygan is tasked with strengthening Swissport’s talent ecosystem during its next phase of global operational excellence.
Tinexta Group appoints Maria Grazia Bizzarri as Group Chief Human Resources and Organization Officer
(January, 2026)
Tinexta Group (Italy, leading industrial group in Digital Trust, Cybersecurity, and Business Innovation) has appointed Maria Grazia Bizzarri as Group Chief Human Resources and Organization Officer. Maria Grazia is a seasoned HR leader with extensive experience in driving digital transformation within high-tech and innovative environments. She joins from Italiaonline, where she served as CHRO for over four years. Her previous career milestones include leadership roles at Nexi (Director of People Development, Reward & Change Management), EY (L&D Director for Southern Europe), and a 13-year tenure at Vodafone culminating as Head of HR Commercial. Beyond her corporate roles, she is a Senior Career Advisor at Luiss Business School and a committed advocate for female empowerment through Women&Tech.
Vertical Aerospace appoints Ollie Roberts as Chief People Officer
(January, 2026)
Vertical Aerospace (United Kingdom, global pioneer in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft) has appointed Ollie Roberts as Chief People Officer (CPO). In this role, Ollie leads the company’s global people strategy, focusing on organizational design, talent development, and culture as Vertical advances toward aircraft certification and commercial operations. Ollie is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in human resources and large-scale transformation. He joins from BMI Group, where he served as both Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Transformation Officer. His career also includes senior global leadership roles at AB InBev, SAB Miller, and the global real estate firm DTZ.