TOP CHRO LIST – The People Leaders To Watch

N2Growth is pleased to congratulate those individuals recognized on the 2022 Top CHRO List.

While virtually all Human Resources leaders were looking forward to moving beyond the pandemic, we can’t ignore the lasting effects it left on 2021 and its spill-over into 2022. Leading through transition has always been the hallmark of great people leaders, but 2022 is still testing CHROs in unprecedented ways.

Ever-changing economic, social, political, and technological landscapes have dramatically impacted the workforce, magnifying the importance of the Chief Human Resources Officer’s role. There may be no other executive position tasked with constantly and deftly managing shifting priorities and responsibilities other than the CHRO. Strategic initiatives of corporate boardrooms have transformed – sometimes literally, overnight. Witness, for example, just the last five years, which have seen a booming economy sent into a tailspin by a pandemic that led to historic layoffs and closures, to a social justice reckoning that has challenged organizations to confront systemic racism and workplace inequality, to a technology-driven future of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

The CHRO has always been responsible for leading the charge on developing and sustaining a healthy organizational culture, but never before has that task been so important – and complicated. Today’s employees are more engaged and outspoken than ever, thanks to social media, which gives them a megaphone to hold organizations accountable for their words and actions. The best CHROs are those who can see around corners, are proactive instead of reactive, and can think long-term while also being responsive to immediate needs. In short, they are true leaders who develop and execute strategies that have a lasting impact on their organizations.

“I am honored to be listed among so many dedicated HR leaders. CHROs today have significant responsibility in helping our organizations address employees’ evolving needs, now and into the future. I proudly share this recognition with the People teams at The Coca-Cola Company and with our Coca-Cola System partners who work daily to steward a culture rooted in Purpose and equipped to drive business growth.” 

Lisa Chang | The Coca-Cola Company

In many ways, the challenges CHROs face continue unabated with the added layer of urgency that an uncertain economy brings, coupled with managing a return to workforce growth and re-engaging employees. The 2022 List of Top CHROs represents those individuals who have demonstrated an ability to think outside the box in meeting challenges, are nimble and adaptable, and always put their people first. These are the Chief Human Resources Officers leading the way forward for their organizations and will continue to shape the future of work.

The annual 2022 Top CHRO Award is a list curated by a panel of N2Growth team members and other outside advisory members to ensure rigor in our selection process.

“The work HR professionals do has never been more vital. The competition for talent is fierce, and workers have a wide array of options. Companies and HR teams must provide a strong value proposition and supportive environment in order to attract talent. It’s an exciting and challenging time for all of us.” 

Beth Whited | EVP Sustainability & Strategy & CHRO, Union Pacific Railroad

In the years since our inaugural list, we’ve continued to expand and refine the list by looking for CHROs capable of innovating and outperforming their peers, regardless of the current market dynamics in play. These Human Resource leaders represent the top 40 human resources leaders shaping careers, culture, and talent at the world’s most innovative, people-driven companies.

“In a world where so many professionals are looking for more from their career journey than the traditional career ladder, HR has a more critical role to play than ever. This list is a testament to the tremendous opportunity before us, which Stash is seizing through next-level approaches to engaging, developing, and rewarding employees. I’m honored to be recognized.” 

Lynne Oldham – Chief People Officer, Stash

Given not all CHROs are created equal, how do you differentiate between those who simply sit in the chair versus those who will set the bar for the future of the role? Put simply, how do you judge the success of a CHRO, and who qualifies for the 2022 Top List?

Following is the methodology used in selecting this year’s winners:

  • Impact, growth, and performance of the organizations they lead.
  • Impact on their industry and in the broader communities they serve.
  • Engaged, transparent, and accountable – they must care. They are passionate about their people and their well-being.
  • An examination of the talent they’ve helped to attract and retain.
  • General and specific observations of the culture they’ve had a hand in shaping.
  • For members of the 2022 Top CHRO List, DE&I and ESG initiatives are a cornerstone of their work, not an afterthought.
  • Take stock of the progressive development plans and programs they’ve made available to the workforce.
  • Evaluate the creativity, reasonability, and effectiveness of the compensation programs in existence.
  • Look for (and find) excellent workforce dynamics, engagement, and satisfaction.
  • Find a well-positioned and robust employer brand.
  • Find HR’s hand in everything as an enabler and contributor to operations flowing through to customer/client satisfaction;
  • Sophisticated development of leaders and succession plans, using data and engaging hi-po talent in new and different ways. 

While the above list is certainly not all-inclusive, it starts to paint a picture of the critical roles CHROs play in the success of any business enterprise. To be recognized on the 2022 Top CHRO List, the words leadership, team, succession, purpose, culture, governance, and diversity are not just buzzwords – they represent who a CHRO is, what they believe, and where they work every day. The depth and breadth of the skills and talents of this next generation of CHROs have taken them from not having a “seat at the table” too often, making them a logical choice as a successor candidate to CEOs.

RankNameTitleCompanyIndustry
1Carol SurfaceCarol SurfaceEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerMedtronicHealthcare / Life Sciences
Carol Surface

Carol Surface

EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 9 Years, 1 Month
Industry Ranking: #1 of 5
Overall Ranking: #1 of 40

HQ Location: Minneapolis MN

Carol Surface joined Medtronic in September 2013 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. She leads Medtronic’s human resources strategy for 90,000+ employees worldwide. She also provides leadership for Philanthropy and Medtronic Labs and serves as the Board Chair of the Medtronic Foundation. Key focus areas include organizational transformation, enterprise talent management, and succession planning, leadership development, inclusion and diversity, executive compensation, reputation management, and community and health initiatives. Prior to joining Medtronic, Carol served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Best Buy Co., Inc., a leading provider of technology products, services, and solutions. Carol also held a series of human resources leadership roles at PepsiCo, including serving as Chief Personnel Officer for PepsiCo International. She has lived and worked in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.

Carol earned a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from Central Michigan University. She serves as Vice Chair of the HR Policy Association, Co-Chair of Gartner’s CHRO Leadership Board, and a member of the Advisory Board of the University of South Carolina Center for Executive Succession. Carol also serves on the Greater MSP Board of Directors in the Minneapolis community. Additionally, she is a member of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. In 2020 and 2021, Carol was named by N2Growth as one of the top CHROs shaping careers, culture, and talent. That same year, she was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), the highest honor granted in the human resource profession.

2Beth-WhitedBeth WhitedEVP Sustainability & Strategy & CHROUnion PacificTransportation / Logistics
Beth Whited

Beth Whited

EVP Sustainability & Strategy & CHRO

Role Tenure: 4 YearsIndustry Ranking: #1 of 5Overall Ranking: #2 of 40

HQ Location: Omaha, NE

Beth Whited was appointed executive vice president-Sustainability and Strategy in February 2022. In this role, she helps lead the development and implementation of Union Pacific’s strategic vision as it strives to become the nation’s No. 1 supply chain logistics provider and oversees its sustainability initiatives, guiding the railroad’s efforts to reach net zero by 2050. She will continue as Chief Human Resource Officer, leading the Workforce Resources team’s pioneering efforts to provide a world-class employee experience.

Whited had served as executive vice president and chief human resource officer since 2018 and was responsible for Union Pacific’s human resources and labor relations functions, as well as the company’s employee engagement culture initiatives. Prior to that, she was executive vice president and chief marketing officer. She previously led the Chemicals business for four years and served as vice president of the railroad’s National Customer Service Center. Since joining Union Pacific in 1987, she has held a variety of executive roles in Strategic Planning, Investor Relations, Finance, and Marketing and Sales, including president of subsidiary Union Pacific Distribution Services. Whited serves as a member of the board of directors of RPM International Inc.

Whited is a member of the Humanities Nebraska Board, the Omaha Symphony Board and the
Aksarben Foundation Board of Governors. She was a founding member and former president of
Union Pacific’s LEAD (Lead, Educate, Achieve, Develop) women’s initiative.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. She and her husband Kelvin have three children.

3Lisa ChangLisa ChangGlobal Chief People OfficerThe Coca-Cola CompanyConsumer / Retail
Lisa Chang Chief People Officer Coca-Cola

Lisa Chang

Global Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 3 Years, 7 Months
Industry Ranking: #1 of 5
Overall Ranking: #3 of 40

HQ Location: Atlanta, GA

coca cola
NYSE: KO

Lisa Chang is the global chief people officer for The Coca-Cola Company, overseeing the company’s talent and people strategies, culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. In her role, which she has held since 2019, she is responsible for leading the company’s global people strategy, aligned with the company’s purpose of refreshing the world and making a difference. Chang and her team are focused on creating an environment where employees can thrive and equip the organization to win.

Before joining Coca-Cola, Chang served as senior vice president and chief human resources officer for AMB Group, LLC in Atlanta, a privately held sports and entertainment conglomerate.
Chang has held HR roles at various companies, including Equifax, Turner Broadcasting System Inc., and The Weather Channel Companies.

Chang serves on the Board of Advisors for Catalyst, a non-profit organization with a mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion. She also serves as a Board member for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and on the Board of Directors for Frontier Communications.

Chang has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Virginia. She earned an MBA from the Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University.

4Stacy GreenStacy GreenEVP & Chief People OfficerSony Pictures EntertainmentMedia / Entertainment
Stacy Green

Stacy Green

EVP & Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 4 Years, 3 MonthsIndustry Ranking: #1 of 5Overall Ranking: #4 of 40

HQ Location: Culver City, CA

Sony Pictures
NYSE: SONY

Stacy Green is Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Reporting to our Chairman and CEO, she is a key member of our executive management team leading our global People & Organization function, as well as the Administrative Services team at our iconic Culver City Studio lot.

With over 25 years of experience guiding companies through disruption, Green has a successful track record of driving strategic transformations, while cultivating inclusive cultures that highly value and engage talent, stimulate creativity and accelerate business performance. She plays a key role in all aspects of our people leadership, including leadership development, business partnership, organizational design, diversity & inclusion, employee communications, M&A, talent acquisition, people policy & operations, employee relations, compensation & benefits and crisis response.

Over the course of her career, Green has held human resource and operations leadership roles in consumer products, and several areas of entertainment & media, including movie and television studios, broadcast and cable television networks and digital platforms. Prior to joining Sony Pictures, Green held global leadership roles at Group Nine Media, A+E Networks and NBCUniversal. Before that, Green worked in various capacities at Revlon, transitioning from Senior Tax Counsel to HR leadership during her tenure.

Green has a deep passion for diversity & inclusion, including her Executive Sponsorship of “Sony Pictures Action, ”our multi-pronged social justice and racial equity initiative founded in 2020 as part of Sony’s $100M Social Justice Fund. She is also currently a Partner Sponsor of Lime Connect and a Board Advisor for Creative Spirit, two organizations dedicated to developing career opportunities for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. Personally, she volunteers as a Women in Entertainment Mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and was honored with the Sherry Lansing Award for her lifelong professional and personal commitment to growing the next generation of leaders through mentorship.

While at A+E Networks, Stacy was recognized with the Walter Kaitz Diversity Champion Award, an award given to organizations in media that act as catalysts for diversity. She also served on the Advisory Board for the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications’ (NAMIC), was a founding member of the Veteran’s Advisory Committee for the National Cable Televisions Association (NCTA) and was active in Women in Cable Television (WICT) and the Cable and Telecommunications Human Resources Association (now C2HR). During this time, she also served on the Executive Leadership Council of PENCIL a non-profit focused on creating impactful relationships between corporations and public schools.

Green holds a Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Finance & Marketing and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from New York University; a law degree cum laude from the University of Miami; and a Bachelor of Sciences (B.S.) with honors in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin.

5Lynne Oldham Chief People Officer ZoomLynne OldhamChief People OfficerStashTechnology
Lynne Oldham Chief People Officer Zoom

Lynne Oldham

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 8 Months Industry Ranking: #1 of 5 Overall Ranking: #5 of 40

HQ Location: New York, NY

Since being recognized on last year’s Top CHRO list, Lynne has taken her considerable experience scaling growth-stage organizations from Zoom to Stash, an industry-leading investing and banking app with a mission to help everyday Americans invest and build wealth. Lynne made the change because she was inspired by the founders’ transformative vision – to broaden access to investment knowledge, tools, and service beyond the 1%. Lynne has extensive experience driving transformational human resources strategies. She is an inspirational and successful talent developer passionate about instilling leadership that improves organizational culture, company bench strength, business operations, employee morale, internal communication, recruitment strategy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The breadth of Lynne’s industry experience makes her somewhat of a unicorn – she has worked across tech, marketing, publishing, consumer, banking, and energy.

6Mona MaloneMona MaloneCHRO & Head of People and CultureBMO Financial GroupBanking/ Insurance/ Finance
Mona Malone

Mona Malone

CHRO & Head of People and Culture

Role Tenure: 3 Years, 5 Months
Industry Ranking: #1 of 5
Overall Ranking: #6 of 40

HQ Location: Toronto, Canada

Mona Malone is Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group. As a bank’s Executive Committee member, she leads and shapes our efforts to fuel our growth strategy with our most valuable asset – our people.

In this role, she is accountable for the People & Culture agenda at BMO, which includes Human Resources, Corporate Communications, the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, BMO Quebec, and the bank’s corporate university, BMO IFL. Mona has held roles in human resources and in the business over her 20 years at BMO. She was a Retail Banking Sales Leader at BMO in the GTA and VP Product and Marketing Officer at ePost (a joint venture between Canada post and BMO), in addition to a range of senior HR roles such as CHRO of Canada’s Personal and Commercial Banking group and Chief Learning & Talent Officer.

Mona lives in Toronto with her husband and three children. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service with youth development organizations. Mona holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. She is the Chair of the Advisory Council for the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at the Ivey Business School and a member of the Branksome Hall Board of Governors and The Long Run Initiative Board of Governors.

7Debra ThompsonDebra ThompsonChief People OfficerCheggAcademia/ Higher ED/ Ed Tech
Debra Thompson

Debra Thompson

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 2 Year, 7 Months
Industry Ranking: #1 of 5
Overall Ranking: #7 of 40

HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA

As Chief People Officer at Chegg, Debra is focused on empowering 1900+ global employees to achieve Chegg’s ‘student-first’ mission, and together create the best culture that attracts and inspires the world’s most passionate talent. She is passionate and proud to lead a talented team to ensure the creation of a more diverse, inclusive environment where everyone can learn and thrive.

She advises executive teams and boards on a broad range of organizational and leadership challenges, including succession planning, leadership development, organization scaling, and cultural transformation initiatives.

With over 20 years of progressively responsible HR experience, her focus has been on all aspects of the compensation, benefits, and HRIS functions and the automation of HR processes. Debra has a B.S. in Business Administration, Personnel Administration/Industrial Relations from California State University East Bay – College of Business and Economics.

8Frank LopezFrank LopezEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerRyder System Inc.Transportation / Logistics
Frank Lopez

Frank Lopez

EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 6 Years, 8 Months
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #8 of 40

HQ Location: Miami, FL

Frank Lopez is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Ryder System, Inc., a leading commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions company. In this position, he is responsible for leading Ryder’s Human Resources function, which includes talent management, recruiting, compensation and benefits, employee engagement, HR operations, and labor relations. Mr. Lopez is a member of Ryder’s Executive Leadership Team.

Most recently, Mr. Lopez was Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources Operations, responsible for leading Ryder’s global field of Human Resources for the company’s three divisions. He was also responsible for labor relations and HR operations in this role.
Mr. Lopez joined Ryder in 2002 as Senior Legal Counsel handling labor & employment law. Since then, he has held several positions of increasing responsibility, including Assistant General Counsel, Group Director of HR and Labor Relations, and Vice President of HR. Before joining Ryder, he spent four years as an attorney with the national law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP.

Mr. Lopez has a strong record of building high-performing teams and partnering with business leaders to develop talent strategies that drive business success in rapidly changing environments. Mr. Lopez has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University and a law degree from Emory University School of Law.

9Katarina BergKatarina BergChief Human Resources OfficerSpotifyMedia / Entertainment
Katarina Berg

Katarina Berg

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 8 Years, 11 Months
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #9 of 40

HQ Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Katarina Berg serves as Spotify’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She oversees all aspects of human resource management and is responsible for developing and executing the people strategy to support the overall business plan. Ms. Berg serves as a member of the board of directors of the House of Education and a member of the advisory board of directors of ToppHälsa, Bonnier Tidskrifter. Before joining the team, Ms. Berg held human resources roles in various multinational companies, such as Swedbank, 3 Scandinavia, and Kanal 5 (SBS Broadcasting). Ms. Berg holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management and Development in Behavioral Science from Lund University.

10Jeff StoicheffJeffrey StoicheffSenior Vice President, Human ResourcesPenske LogisticsTransportation / Logistics
Jeff Stoicheff

Jeffrey Stoicheff

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Role Tenure: 15 Years, 8 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #10 of 40

HQ Location: Reading, PA

Penske

Jeff Stoicheff serves as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, responsible for HR strategy and related activities for Penske Logistics. Stoicheff has more than 30 years of human resources experience. A graduate of St. Louis University, he joined Penske in 1994 as a logistics HR representative. In 1996, he was promoted to human resources manager. In 1998, he was named vice president of human resources at Penske Logistics.

He has served on Penske Logistics’ senior leadership team since 1999 and has been a champion of leadership development, talent recruitment, and diversity. Mr. Stoicheff and his wife have two daughters and reside in Pennsylvania.

11Alexandra BrandãoAlexandra BrandãoHead of Human ResourcesSantander GroupBanking/ Insurance/ Finance
Alexandra Brandão

Alexandra Brandão

Head of Human Resources

Role Tenure: 2 Year, 1 Month
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #11 of 40

HQ Location: Madrid, Spain

Alexandra Brandão is currently Global Head of Human Resources at Santander. As Global Head of HR at Santander, she wants to foster an inclusive work environment through a culture of collaboration and agility that brings together our diverse, motivated, skilled, and digitally capable workforce to innovate for our customers and enhances the employee experience. In this fast-changing world, she truly believes that companies will thrive if they can unlock the full potential of their workforce’s talent. Santander is committed to doing that in a simple, personal, and fair way.

Passionate about people and business, she has always sought to hold management and human resources roles in an international setting. She started her career in Investment Banking, Capital Markets, and Retail and Corporate banking. Her personal development has also taken in talent management and helping people be at their best. She was in charge of Global Knowledge and Development at Santander and led Santander Corporate University. She was also head of HR at Santander Portugal.

Alexandra has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Nova School of Business and Economics in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration from Adolfo Ibáñez University in 2012. She is a Portuguese national living between Lisbon and Madrid, supported by his husband and two beautiful young children. She believes her personal experiences have helped her appreciate diversity and different opinions, which will provide the backdrop for innovation and competition in an ever-changing landscape.

12Donna MorrisDonna MorrisExecutive Vice President, Chief People OfficerWalmartConsumer / Retail
Donna Morris

Donna Morris

Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 2 Year, 8 Months
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #12 of 40

HQ Location: Bentonville, AR

Donna Morris is executive vice president and chief people officer for Walmart Inc. An executive committee member, she is responsible for attracting, retaining, and developing talent for one of the world’s largest private employers.

Donna has nearly 20 years of leadership experience in delivering innovative people solutions, developing and managing teams that operate agilely and helping to build a high-performance culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. Donna joined Walmart from Adobe, where she served as chief human resources officer and executive vice president of employee experience.

Donna, a native of Ottawa, Canada, joined Adobe in 2002 and most recently led all aspects of the company’s human resources, real estate, and security operations. She led several workplace-friendly initiatives at Adobe, including expanding its family leave policy and simplifying standard HR processes.

Donna has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Carleton University. Donna holds the Society for Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Senior HR Professional (SHRP), and Canadian Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designations. She also serves on the board of directors of Marvell Technology.
Donna and her husband, Wayne, live in Northwest Arkansas. They have one son, Kyle, who lives in New York.

13Susan WinchesterSusan WinchesterSenior Vice President, Chief Human Resources OfficerApplied MaterialsTechnology
Susan Winchester

Susan Winchester

Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 4 Years
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #13 of 40

HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA

Susan Winchester leads Human Resources for Applied Materials and its more than 20,000 global employees. She has more than 30 years of experience in HR, providing executive leadership for the function, most recently at Rockwell Automation and Kellogg Company. Her innovative mindset and commitment to excellence define her leadership style. She continually looks to meet today’s global business challenges with creative HR strategies that engage people, enable exceptional performance and support a dynamic, inclusive corporate culture. Her passion for creating value for organizations is evident, whether she strategizes future workforce imperatives or clarifies talent assessment and development models that will enable all individuals to contribute their best work.

While at Rockwell for 11 years, Susan set global strategies designed to strengthen leadership, build organizational capacity, and power the company’s business priorities. External organizations consistently recognized this work and significantly contributed to Rockwell Automation being recognized with the prestigious Catalyst Award in 2017 for the company’s innovative approach to building a culture of inclusion and being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for nine years. Under her HR leadership, Rockwell’s inclusive practices earned a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual Corporate Equality Index for LGBT Equality and the distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” Susan is a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources — the highest professional honor for individuals in HR.

Susan lived, studied, and worked in the United States, France, and England. She earned her master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Illinois State University and her bachelor’s from Albion College in Michigan. She also attended the University of Grenoble, France. Contributing her expertise to developing future talent, she is a Leadership Advisory Board member for the Dean of Engineering at the University of Michigan, serving as the Vice Chair in the College of Engineering, and is a member of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Advisory Council for the College of Engineering.

14Tim HuvalTim HuvalChief Administrative Officer & CHROHumanaHealthcare / Life Sciences
Tim Huval

Tim Huval

Chief Administrative Officer & CHRO

Role Tenure: 9 Years, 9 MonthsIndustry Ranking: #2 of 5Overall Ranking: #14 of 40

HQ Location: Louisville, KY

Tim Huval is Humana’s, Chief Administrative Officer. Tim is a member of the Management Team, which sets the firm’s strategic direction, and reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Broussard. His leadership responsibilities have wide-ranging areas of oversight, including all aspects of Human Resources, Corporate Marketing, Workplace Solutions, Inclusion and Diversity, Safety, and Security.

Before joining Humana, Tim spent ten years at Bank of America in multiple senior‐level roles, including Human Resources executive and Chief Information Officer for Global Wealth & Investment Management, as well as Human Resources executive for both Global Treasury Services and Technology & Global Operations. Additionally, he led several large operations organizations, including Global Card Services, responsible for all card operations and customer service, serving over 40 million customers. Tim also held numerous leadership roles in operations and Human Resources at Gateway Inc.

While at Bank of America, Tim served as chair of the Consumer Banking, Business Banking, and Enterprise Client Coverage Diversity & Inclusion Business Council, responsible for promoting an inclusive work environment. He also served as the executive sponsor of the Military Support & Assistance Group, which supports efforts to attract, integrate, retain and develop military veterans.

Previously, Tim served on the board of directors of Seacoast Banking Corporation and has also contributed to various non-profit boards, including Family and Children’s Place in Louisville, Delaware United Way, Delaware Children’s Museum, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Technology Council, Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development, Utah Information Technology Association, and Youth Homes, Charlotte, N.C.

Tim earned a master’s degree in public administration from Brigham Young University, a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Weber State, and an associate degree in business management from Salt Lake Community College. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Salt Lake Community College.

15Laurie HavanecLaurie HavanecChief People OfficerCVS HealthHealthcare / Life Sciences
Laurie Havanec

Laurie Havanec

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 8 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #15 of 40

HQ Location: Woonsocket, RI

Laurie Havanec is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at CVS Health, leading Human Resources for one of the nation’s top workforces of 300,000 diverse and talented employees across the US. Laurie is responsible for all HR functions, including talent development, diversity, equity and inclusion, compensation and benefits, and labor and employee relations.

Laurie brings over 25 years of experience to CVS Health, recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Otis Worldwide Co., the world’s leading elevator and escalator company. At Otis, she focused on people and culture during a time of significant change and transformation as the company successfully transitioned from a United Technologies Corporation (UTC) subsidiary to an independent, publicly-traded company during the pandemic.

Before joining Otis, Laurie served as Corporate Vice President of Talent and Human Resources at UTC, where, together with her team, she transformed and modernized the company’s talent agenda and priorities. She championed technology and new ways of thinking to create industry-leading engagement, recruitment, and performance practices. Previously Laurie held senior HR roles at Aetna, Inc., and Sikorsky.

Laurie earned a BS in Business from the University of Connecticut and a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Laurie is an inductee of the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Governor’s Committee on Workforce and Education.

16Sven OddensSven OddensEVP & Group Human Resources DirectorJustEat TakeawayConsumer / Retail
Sven Oddens Just Eat

Sven Oddens

EVP & Group Human Resources Director

Role Tenure: 2 Year, 1 MonthIndustry Ranking: #3 of 5Overall Ranking: #16 of 40

HQ Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sven Oddens is currently Executive Vice President, Group Human Resources Director at Just Eat Takeaway.com. He has previously served as Global Director of Human Resources at Takeaway.com. He has also worked with comScore as VP, Human Resources, for the European Union, Asia Pacific, and LATAM. He holds a bachelor’s in Human Resources from Hogeschool Van Amsterdam.

17Russ HageyRuss HageyPartner & Worldwide Chief Talent OfficerBainProfessional Services
Russ Hagey

Russ Hagey

Partner & Worldwide Chief Talent Officer

Role Tenure: 15 Years, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #1 of 5
Overall Ranking: #17 of 40

HQ Location: Boston, MA

Bain & Company

Russ Hagey is a partner, director, and the Worldwide Chief Talent Officer of Bain & Company. He is based in Bain’s Los Angeles office. Russ is a leader in the firm’s Healthcare and Consumer Products practices. He advises clients in the medical devices and healthcare services sectors, high technology, wholesale trade and distribution, consumer products, and retail. He holds deep expertise in corporate strategies, growth initiatives, new product development, acquisitions, sales force, and distribution issues. His work has spanned large corporate entities in addition to venture and private equity-backed ownership stakes.

As Worldwide Chief Talent Officer, Russ oversees the firm’s recruiting, professional development, training, and human resources functions for Bain’s global staff.
Russ ranked number three on Forbes’s list of the top 10 chief human resources officers (CHROs) in 2015. Consulting Magazine also named him among the top 25 consultants in its 2007 industry survey.

Russ has led non-profit efforts for Bain’s Los Angeles office, where he served as the office’s managing partner for more than 10 years. He serves as Chair for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and sits on the boards of directors for LA’s BEST, a nationally recognized after-school program, and the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games.
Russ earned his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is also a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, where he received a BA in Economics and was elected Phi Beta Kappa.

18Lynanne KunkelLynanne KunkelChief Human Resources OfficerVail ResortsConsumer / Retail
Lynanne Kunkel

Lynanne Kunkel

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 5 Years, 5 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #18 of 40

HQ Location: Broomfield, CO

Lynanne was named Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in May 2017. Previous to joining Vail Resorts, Lynanne served as Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources for Michigan-based Whirlpool Corporation and she held various other executive positions within the company including Vice President of Global Talent Development & HR Asia and Human Resources Vice President (North America Region) since she joined in 2010. From 1989-2009, she served in many leadership roles at Ohio-based Procter & Gamble Company, including Human Resources Director of Global Home Care. Lynanne has served on the board of directors for the United Way and Habitat for Humanity in Southwest Michigan.

19Kristi-Cappelletti-MatthewsKristi Cappelletti-MatthewsChief Human Resources OfficerVSP VisionBanking/ Insurance/ Finance
Kristi Cappelletti Matthews

Kristi Cappelletti-Matthews

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 14 Years, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #19 of 40

HQ Location: Rancho Cordova, CA

vsp global

VSP Vision’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Kristi Cappelletti-Matthews, is responsible for developing and executing the human resources strategy in support of the organization’s overall business plan and strategic direction. She oversees compensation, benefits, organizational effectiveness, employee communications, HRIS, talent acquisition, and all human resources operations, which include the HR service center, payroll, wellness, analytics, metrics, special projects, and ongoing company-wide leadership efforts.

She has more than three decades of human resources experience and worked across industries—from healthcare to high tech—with specialized expertise in domestic, sales, executive, and international compensation programs. At VSP, she put that expertise to work by partnering with the VSP Vision’s Board of Directors Compensation Committee as a Staff Liaison, supporting executive and CEO compensation recommendations, CEO performance evaluations, succession planning, and corporate incentive programs.

She is a certified personal trainer and believes that health and wellness are critical in supporting a thriving workforce and living a high-quality life.

20Gloria ChenGloria ChenChief People Officer & EVP, Employee ExperienceAdobeTechnology
Gloria Chen

Gloria Chen

Chief People Officer & EVP, Employee Experience

Role Tenure: 2 Year, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #20 of 40

HQ Location: San Jose, CA

As Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President, Employee Experience, Gloria Chen leads all aspects of people strategy and operations for Adobe, including talent development, diversity and inclusion, and all human resources functions. She’s charged with creating an exceptional employee experience for more than 22,000 employees across 75 locations.
In her more than 20 years with Adobe, including as Chief Strategy Officer, Gloria has helped usher the company through some of its boldest, most critical changes, from shaping its eCommerce strategy to building its enterprise business and managing significant acquisitions and integrations. She’s held senior leadership positions in worldwide sales operations, customer service and support, and strategic planning.

Before joining Adobe, Gloria started her career as a software engineer and was an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. She holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, an MS in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) from Carnegie Mellon, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Gloria serves on the board of The Tech Interactive in San Jose and the Carnegie Mellon Electrical & Computer Engineering advisory council.

21Aimee HoytAimee HoytChief People OfficerIlluminaHealthcare / Life Sciences
Aimee Hoyt

Aimee Hoyt

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 4 Years, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #21 of 40

HQ Location: San Diego, CA

Aimee Hoyt is Chief People Officer at Illumina, where she is responsible for all aspects of the company’s HR strategies. Hoyt has a successful track record for leading workforce transformation, driving business growth, and creating high-impact teams.

Previously, she has held senior positions at some of the world’s best-known technology companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, and Sun Microsystems. Most recently, she was the Chief Human Resources Officer at Rackspace; a leading managed cloud computing company in San Antonio, Texas. She led the HR team and was responsible for helping build, align and develop high-performing global teams. During her tenure, Rackspace was recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Top 30 Best Places in Tech, and Great Places to Work for Millennials.

Hoyt earned a master’s in human resources development from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

22Lothar HaringsLothar HaringsChief Human Resources OfficerKuehne+NagelTransportation / Logistics
Lothar Harings

Lothar Harings

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 13 Years, 6 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #22 of 40

HQ Location: Schindellegi, Switzerland

Lothar Harings joined Kuehne+Nagel in 2009 and has since held the position of Chief Human Resources Officer of the Group. Lothar Harings has held various national and international management positions at Siemens, acting as Vice President of Human Resources Siemens AG for Enterprise & International HR ICN from 1998 to 2002. As a Member of the Management Board of T-Mobile International, he was responsible for Global Human Resources with T-Mobile AG and Deutsche Telekom from 2002 until March 2009.

Other significant activities: Member of the academic advisory board of Bonner Akademie, Bonn; National Curator of Deutsches Komitee of AIESEC e. V., Bonn; Member of the Board of Directors of WHU Foundation, Vallendar.

23Sergio EzamaSergio EzamaChief Human Resources OfficerNetflixMedia / Entertainment
Sergio Ezama

Sergio Ezama

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 1 Month
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #23 of 40

HQ Location: Los Gatos, CA

Sergio Ezama was named Netflix Chief Talent Officer in September 2021. He was previously Global Chief Talent Officer at PepsiCo and served as Chief Human Resources Officer for global functions and groups. In this role, he led the company’s efforts across all talent-related areas in more than 200 countries. Sergio joined PepsiCo in 2001, serving in various talent leadership roles at PepsiCo headquarters in the U.S. and across Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Sergio holds a BS in Law and Masters in Juridical Practice and Human Resources Management from the University of Deusto. He also has a master’s in Health and Safety Management from Instituto Europeo de Salud y Bienestar Social. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program.

24Matt Breitfelder Apollo Global ManagementMatthew BreitfelderGlobal Head of Human Capital & PartnerApollo Global ManagementBanking/ Insurance/ Finance
Matt Breitfelder Apollo Global Management

Matthew Breitfelder

Global Head of Human Capital & Senior Partner

Role Tenure: 3 Years, 5 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #24 of 40

HQ Location: New York City, NY

Matt Breitfelder is Global Head of Human Capital and Partner at Apollo Global Management, a high-growth alternative asset management firm with $475 billion under management. He is also a member of the firm’s Management Committee. In this role, Matt focuses on attracting extraordinary talent to Apollo, serving as a strong champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating an innovative, high-performance culture that brings out the best in our people.

Prior to joining Apollo, Matt was Chief Talent Officer at BlackRock, as well as a member of the Operating Committee. Previously, he held strategy, talent, and innovation roles at Mastercard, PwC, and CEB/Gartner. Matt started his career as an international trade economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He currently serves on the boards of the Lumina Foundation, the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program, and Georgetown’s initiative on AI, Analytics, and the Future of Work. He is the co-author of a number of Harvard Business School case studies on leadership. He holds a BA in economics from the University of Southern California, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

25Teuila HansonTeuila HansonSVP & Chief People OfficerLinkedinTechnology
Teuila Hanson

Teuila Hanson

SVP & Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 2 Years, 4 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #25 of 40

HQ Location: Sunnyvale, CA

LinkedIn

Teuila Hanson is the Chief People Officer at LinkedIn. In this role, she leads the team responsible for hiring, developing, and growing top talent, including all benefits, employee experience, and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging programs.

Before joining LinkedIn, Teuila was the executive vice president and Chief Strategy and People Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. In this role, she led the strategy and people teams and served as chair of the bank’s management committee, creating an engaging workplace by driving bank strategy and integrating best practices in talent management, inclusion and diversity, learning and development, compensation and benefits, employee engagement and corporate culture. Teuila also held various leadership roles at AECOM Technology Corporation, a global professional services organization.

Teuila earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sonoma State University and her Juris Doctor degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. She is a licensed member of the California Bar.

26Ellyn-ShookEllyn ShookChief Leadership & Human Resources OfficerAccentureProfessional Services
Ellyn Shook

Ellyn Shook

Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 8 Years, 7 Months
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #26 of 40

HQ Location: New York City, NY

Ellyn Shook is Accenture’s Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer, responsible for helping the 624,000 people of Accenture succeed both professionally and personally. Her global team of HR experts is re-imagining leadership and talent practices to create the most truly human work environment, fueling Accenture’s differentiation in the market and ability to improve the way the world works and lives.

Ellyn is a member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee. She is a strong advocate for diversity and equality, and Accenture has been widely recognized externally as an employer of choice and for its equality efforts.

Before being named chief human resources officer in 2014, Ellyn was senior managing director—Human Resources and led Accenture’s Human Resources Centers of Expertise and the Human Resources Business Partner Organization. In this position, she was responsible for the design of Accenture’s talent architecture, as well as the company’s total rewards, talent supply chain, and talent development programs.

Between 2004 and 2011, Ellyn was the global human resources lead for career and performance management, total rewards, employee engagement, and mergers and acquisitions. Earlier in her career, she was head of global compensation, responsible for designing and implementing new executive compensation and equity programs—including equity grants at the time of the company’s IPO in 2001. She also led human resources for the company’s New York office for five years.

Ellyn is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper Community Foundation Board, the Women’s Leadership Board of the Women and Public Policy program at Harvard’s Kennedy School, and the steering committee of Paradigm for Parity. She also serves on the HR Policy Association’s Board of Directors and is an active member of the HR50 division of World50.

Ellyn joined Accenture in 1988 and became a partner in 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University.

27Kamy ScarlettKamy ScarlettChief Human Resources OfficerBest BuyConsumer / Retail
Kamy Scarlett

Kamy Scarlett

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 5 Years, 4 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #27 of 40

HQ Location: Richfield, MN

Kamy Scarlett is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Best Buy Co. Inc. In this role, she oversees talent development and the health and well-being of our employees worldwide, with a focus on making Best Buy one of the best places to work in America.

Additionally, Kamy serves as an executive vice president of Best Buy Canada, where the company operates more than 150 stores. She also served as the company’s president of U.S. retail stores for about a year, leading the execution and operation of all domestic Best Buy locations. Kamy joined Best Buy in 2014. Before her current role, she was senior vice president of retail and chief human resources officer for Best Buy Canada. She was responsible for the sales and profits of the company’s stores and enacting the Canadian operations’ human resources and talent management strategies.

Since beginning her career in retail more than 30 years ago, Kamy has served in various retail, operations, marketing, and human resources leadership roles. She has a proven record of driving great customer experiences and financial results, as well as creating and executing HR and operations strategies and organizational transformation. This has led to great success in building strong cultures of high employee engagement, cost reduction, succession planning, training and development, and productivity improvements.

Before joining Best Buy, Kamy was the chief operating officer at Grafton-Fraser Inc., a leading Canadian retailer of men’s apparel. She previously held leadership roles at Loblaw Cos., Hudson’s Bay Co., and Dylex Inc.

Kamy serves on the boards of the Best Buy Foundation and Floor & Décor, a leading specialty retailer of hard surface flooring based in Atlanta.

28Nicky DingemansNicky DingemansChief Human Resources OfficerOliver WymanProfessional Services
Nicky Dingemans

Nicky Dingemans

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 10 Years, 5 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #28 of 40

HQ Location: New York, NY

Oliver Wyman

Nicky Dingemans assumed the Chief Human Capital Officer of Oliver Wyman Group in 2012. Nicky is responsible for all aspects of human capital management, including talent acquisition, management and executive development, employee relations, compensation plan, employee benefits, diversity and inclusion, employee mobility, organization planning and effectiveness, staffing, legal and regulatory compliance, and the effectiveness of the company’s succession planning.

She is a member of Oliver Wyman Group’s Management Committee and the Oliver Wyman Executive Committee. She also sits on the Marsh & McLennan Companies Global HR Executive Team.

Before joining Oliver Wyman Group, Nicky was the Global Chief People Officer at Reed Smith LLP, a global law firm with more than 3,500 employees. From 1987 to 2007, she was with Booz Allen & Hamilton (now Booz & Co.), where she held numerous roles in consulting (primarily in the healthcare sector) and human resources, including Global Human Capital Director for the Global Commercial/Global Integrated Business. Nicky received an MS in Management from Stanford Business School and a BA in Biochemistry from The Queen’s College, Oxford University. Nicky is an avid soccer fan and a lifelong Manchester City supporter. She formerly captained The Queen’s College ladies soccer team and now uses those skills to help coach her children’s soccer teams.

29Chris WintonChris WintonCorporate Vice President, HRFedexTransportation / Logistics
Chris Winton

Chris Winton

Corporate Vice President, HR

Role Tenure: 7 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #29 of 40

HQ Location: Memphis, TN

Chris Winton is Corporate Vice President, Human Resources-Elect for FedEx Corporation, a global transportation and business services holding company. He is a dynamic leader, speaker, author, and coach with years of experience shattering expectations in corporate America.

Chris is responsible for leading the Human Resources function for FedEx Corporation, which includes talent development, succession planning, executive compensation, benefits, workforce strategy, and HR operations. He began his career at FedEx as an IT Intern and progressed to Director of IT Operations before transitioning to Human Resources.

Mr. Winton is a FedEx Strategic Management Committee member, responsible for developing and reviewing the corporation’s strategic business activities. FedEx has been widely acknowledged for its commitment to total quality service and consistently ranked on Fortune magazine’s industry lists, including “World’s Most Admired Companies” and “America’s Most Admired Companies.”

His energetic approach has brought Chris to the forefront of media attention. He has worked with two White House administrations on creating employment pathways for underserved communities and appeared on C-SPAN to discuss scaling such programs. Chris was recently recognized by the Memphis Business Journal as one of the city’s “Top 40 Leaders Under 40” for his body of work in workforce development.

Chris was honored in HRO Today with the Cream of the Crop award for his work with companies such as Google to leverage AI and machine learning to help job seekers find jobs tailored to their needs.

30Rich JacquetRich JacquetChief People OfficerCourseraAcademia/ Higher ED/ Ed Tech
Rich Jacquet

Rich Jacquet

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 3 Years, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #2 of 5
Overall Ranking: #30 of 40

HQ Location: Mountain View, CA

Rich Jacquet is Coursera’s Chief People Officer. Before joining Coursera in 2019, Rich was the Chief People Officer at Gigamon, a network security company with approximately $350 million in revenues. While shaping Gigamon’s culture and employee experiences, he helped take the company public and scale the team to over 800+ people. Rich has also held significant leadership positions at Yahoo!, eBay, Packeteer, and Bay Networks.

He has an MBA in Organizational Studies from Notre Dame de Namur University and earned his BS in Business from California State University at Chico.

31Anna FraserAnna FraserChief People OfficerSonosMedia / Entertainment
Anna Fraser

Anna Fraser

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 5 Years, 9 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #31 of 40

HQ Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Anna Fraser has served as our Chief People Officer since January 2017. She leads the company’s recruitment, development, engagement, and retention strategies in addition to cultivating the Sonos culture across 15 offices globally.

Before joining Sonos, Anna served as Director and Chief of Staff for Google’s People Operations function, responsible for people strategy and employee experience for over 70,000 global employees. Her employee branding and communications programs resulted in Google being recognized eight times as Fortune’s #1 Best Company to Work For..

Anna drove industry-leading compensation, retention, and engagement strategies; diversity and inclusion initiatives; and a scientific approach to hiring, management, and well-being. Most notably, she worked to open-source Google’s people practices through the development of the New York Times Bestseller Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock, and Harvard Business School’s most-read case study, Google’s Project Oxygen: Do Managers Matter?

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Harvard University, where she was an Academic All-American Swimmer.

32Anne LebelAnne LebelGroup CHROCapgeminiProfessional Services
Anne Lebel

Anne Lebel

Group CHRO

Role Tenure: 2 Years, 3 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #32 of 40

Location: Paris, France

Anne Lebel is a group CHRO of Capgemini since July 2020. Prior to joining Capgemini, Anne was Chief Human Resources and Corporate Culture Officer for Natixis and a member of the Senior Management Committee.

She started her career in 1987 at Bossard Consultants as an organization and change management consultant. In 1997, Anne joined Schering Plough France as Human Resources and Training Manager for France before moving to head up HR Organization and Development in Europe.

In 2004, Anne joined Serono France as Head of Human Resources, France. In 2008, Anne moved to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, where she was appointed Head of Human Resources for France, Italy, and Spain, and later for Europe and Asia, before becoming Global Head of Human Resources in 2012.

Anne joined Natixis in 2016 as a member of the Senior Management Committee and Chief Human Resources Officer. In 2019 she also assumed responsibility for corporate culture for Natixis.

Anne is also the Lead Independent Director of Nexans’ Board of Directors. She is a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Strasbourg and the Institut d’administration des entreprises (IAE) Paris.

33Paige RossPaige RossGlobal Head of Human ResourcesBlackstoneBanking/ Insurance/ Finance
Paige Ross

Paige Ross

Global Head of Human Resources

Role Tenure: 6 Years, 6 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #33 of 40

HQ Location: New York City, NY

Blackstone

Paige Ross is the Global Head of Human Resources at Blackstone. In this role, she oversees human resource management globally for the firm. Ms. Ross brings more than 30 years of experience in talent development and strategic planning across a multitude of industries and geographies.

Prior to joining Blackstone, Ms. Ross served as the Managing Director of Talent Management at Centerbridge Partners, with a focus on leading Talent Management across the portfolio companies. She has also held senior human resources leadership positions at Pfizer, Avon, and PepsiCo.

Ms. Ross earned her BA at Stony Brook University and Ph.D. in Applied Organizational Psychology at Hofstra University.

34Christy PambianchiChristy PambianchiChief Human Resources OfficerIntelTechnology
Christy Pambianchi

Christy Pambianchi

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 2 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #34 of 40

HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA

Christy Pambianchi is executive vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer at Intel Corporation. As CHRO, she is responsible for driving Intel’s people strategy and fostering a vibrant culture focused on bold innovation, flawless execution, and continuous development and learning.

Pambianchi was previously at Verizon, where she served as executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO). During her time there, she reimagined Verizon’s HR mission and practices, delivering an enterprise strategic transformation workforce plan to stay at the forefront of digital transformation. In addition, she ran Verizon’s internal COVID-19 response. In April 2020,

Pambianchi joined as founding CHRO with cross-industry HR leaders from Accenture, Lincoln Financial Group, and ProCore to launch the People+Work Connect platform, creating the first business-to-business platform for HR leaders to work together to accelerate talent movement and reduce the negative impacts of mass unemployment.

Prior to Verizon, Pambianchi was most recently an executive vice president of People & Digital at Corning Inc., forming a dual role leading human resources and information technology to create a digital transformation roadmap. Earlier, Pambianchi served in other senior leadership roles at Corning, including as CHRO for 12 years.

Before joining Corning, Pambianchi spent ten years at PepsiCo Inc., starting in labor and employee relations field roles in multiple regions before moving into corporate organization capability and providing HR support for a companywide IT transformation.

Pambianchi holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She serves on the boards of the National Academy of Human Resources Foundation, the Center for Advanced Human Resources Studies at Cornell University for the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the HR Policy Association, the Health Transformation Alliance, and the Center for Executive Succession at the University of South Carolina, Darla School of Management. She also serves as a board member of the Lumina Foundation, an organization committed to increasing the percentage of citizens in the U.S. with post-secondary education and credentials.

Pambianchi has also been active in the FIRST robotics program, serving five years as head coach at the high-school level for FTC Team 5484 and as a tournament director. In 2017, she was appointed as a fellow to the National Academy of Human Resources.

35Tracey FranklinTracey FranklinChief Human Resources OfficerModernaHealthcare / Life Sciences
Tracey Franklin Moderna

Tracey Franklin

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 3 Years
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #35 of 40

HQ Location: Cambridge, MA

Tracey Franklin has been the Chief Human Resources Officer at Moderna since October 2019. As Chief Human Resources Officer, Tracey leads Moderna’s talent and organizational strategy.

She joined Moderna in October 2019 following 15 years at Merck & Co., Inc. Most recently, she led Merck’s global talent strategy as Vice President, HR Chief Talent and Strategy Officer. In this role, Tracey was responsible for leading the vision, development, and execution of the company’s Talent and Workforce Strategy, focusing on evolving the organizational culture and talent for the future.

Previous leadership roles included responsibility for HR for all divisions in the European region, head of HR for the U.K. and Ireland subsidiaries of Merck, and HR Operations leader responsible for HR program implementation across Merck’s global footprint. She was based in Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. in various leadership roles and served on Merck’s HR Leadership Team.

36Lorna HagenLorna HagenChief People OfficerGuild EducationAcademia/ Higher ED/ Ed Tech
Lorna Hagen

Lorna Hagen

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 4 Months
Industry Ranking: #3 of 5
Overall Ranking: #36 of 40

HQ Location: Denver, CO

Guild

Lorna Hagen is a Human Capital executive with over 20 years of experience focused on building high-performance companies. Today, she is the Chief People Officer at Guild Education. Prior to Guild, she was Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at iHeartMedia where she successfully rebuilt their HR function.

Lorna helped lead a successful IPO at OnDeck Capital and lead the organization to 16 “Best Companies to Work For” awards. As a Latina executive, Lorna is passionate about taking D&I from talk to action, and is committed to building equitable career opportunities for all employees.

37Manuel Cuevas-TrisanManuel Cuevas-TrisanVP Human ResourcesHarvard University Academia/ Higher ED/ Ed Tech
Manuel Cuevas-Trisan

Manuel Cuevas-Trisan

VP Human Resources

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 2 Months
Industry Ranking: #4 of 5
Overall Ranking: #37 of 40

HQ Location: Cambridge, MA

Harvard

Manuel joined Harvard University as Vice President for Human Resources in August of 2021. In this capacity, he sets the overall strategic vision for Human Resources aimed at elevating the University’s profile as a progressive, business-forward employer, recruiting and retaining diverse talent, providing development opportunities for all members of the University workforce, and serving as a thought leader on how Harvard can thrive in the workplace of the future.

He has oversight of and responsibility for staff employment policies, labor relations, benefits/wellbeing, and compensation programs for the entire University, and serves as the coordinating partner to the HR leaders at each of Harvard’s 12 individual schools. He is also responsible for all aspects of HR for Central Administration and has oversight of Harvard’s contingent workforce.

Most recently, Manuel was Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer at Northwestern University. Previously, he had a successful career at Motorola Solutions, Inc. in Chicago, which culminated in his service as Chief Human Resources Officer and Corporate Vice President of Employment Law.

He earned his BA from the University of Notre Dame and his JD from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law. He holds Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and a Master’s Degree in Executive Coaching & Leadership from Universitat de Barcelona/OBS.

38Trent HenryTrent Henry Global Vice Chair - TalentErnst & YoungProfessional Services
Trent Henry

Trent Henry

Global Vice Chair - Talent

Role Tenure: 4 Years, 3 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #38 of 40

HQ Location: London, United Kingdom

Ernst & Young

As EY Global Vice Chair – Talent, Trent focuses on the convergence of talent and markets agendas for both the 260,000 EY people and clients worldwide. This includes advising on and responding to changes and opportunities in the evolution of the global workforce.

Trent is CPA-qualified and was most recently EY Canada Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He has also served as the Canada Regional Managing Partner. Prior to that, he spent two years as Managing Partner of EY Canada Canadian Tax services. During this time, he joined the Canadian Executive Committee. In 2004, Trent became leader of EY Canada International Tax services, and he was a member of the Canadian Tax Desk in New York from 1999 until 2001.

Additionally, he was a member of the Canadian Council of CEOs from 2010-2018.
Trent earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island.

39Paul RichardsonPaul RichardsonChief Human Resources OfficerWalt DisneyMedia / Entertainment
Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson

Chief Human Resources Officer

Role Tenure: 1 Year, 3 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #39 of 40

HQ Location: Burbank, CA

Paul Richardson serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for The Walt Disney Company. In this role, Mr. Richardson is responsible for leading Disney’s human resources strategy, global talent acquisition, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, organizational design and cultural development, employee education and development, compensation and benefits, HR operations and technology, employee relations, and global security.

Previously, Mr. Richardson led human resources at ESPN from 2007 to 2021, where he supported 50 different business units. He also served as a member of the ESPN Board of Directors and Executive Committee and oversaw ESPN’s Corporate Citizenship team, which is responsible for strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, as well as worldwide Global Security & Facilities Operations.

Mr. Richardson also served as the first chief diversity officer for The Walt Disney Company from 2011 to 2017, partnering with diversity leaders across Disney’s business segments to define and implement global D&I strategies. He launched numerous programs and initiatives, including Disney’s signature Heroes Work Here program, through which the Company has employed more than 10,000 veterans, and its Veterans Institute workshops for employers looking to establish their own military hiring and development programs; the Global Workplace & Women’s Initiative; and a growth initiative targeting US Hispanics. Under his direction and leadership, ESPN has also launched several diversity initiatives including a Women’s Leadership Conference, nine Employee Resource Groups and an Executive Diversity Council. In 2019, he initiated Disney’s Black Employee & Consumer Experience, which focused on increasing Black employee representation, enhancing development opportunities for Black executives, and finding ways to make the Company’s content and products even more relevant to Black consumers.

Mr. Richardson began his career as an attorney before transitioning to the human resources field. Prior to joining ESPN, Mr. Richardson served as Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources at Universal McCann; Senior Vice President, Human Resources, for Paramount Pictures Corp.; and Vice President, Human Resources, at Bowne & Company in Los Angeles. He also spent more than 10 years at The Times Mirror Company, the former parent company of the Los Angeles Times, where he held HR and legal roles and served as a key member of executive management.

He received a NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) Luminary Award in 2010, and CableFAX: The Magazine named him to its Most Influential Minorities in Cable list from 2010 to 2020. Mr. Richardson has served as an advisor to the California State Summer School of the Arts and as a board member of the Cable and Telecommunications Human Resources Association (CTHRA, now known as C2HR). He is currently a member of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Board of Councilors.
Mr. Richardson received both a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California.

40Pravin PrakashPravin PrakashChief People OfficerByju'sAcademia/ Higher ED/ Ed Tech
Pravin Prakash

Pravin Prakash

Chief People Officer

Role Tenure: 14 Years, 7 Months
Industry Ranking: #5 of 5
Overall Ranking: #40 of 40

HQ Location: Bengaluru , India

Byjus

Pravin leads the people operations function across India. His role includes planning and creating innovation-driven initiatives for employees and supporting them with several programs for development, training, and personal growth. Leading key initiatives in the Research and Development in the engagement space for employees leading to higher levels of enthusiasm and motivation across teams.

Pravin had the privilege of donning multiple hats at the company. Most importantly he had the good fortune of being a student of Byju Raveendran, being one of the founding students of BYJU’S, he started as a teacher and later handled the sales and marketing function too.

Prior to BYJU’S, he began his career in 2003 as a Software Engineer with a leading digital technology services company, UST Global.

NameTitleCompany
Sheri Bronstein Chief Human Resources OfficerBank of America Charlotte, NC
Arnnon GeshuriChief Human Resources OfficerTeladoc Health Purchase, NY
Kathleen HoganEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerMicrosoft Redmond, WA
Dierdre O'BrienSenior Vice President, Retail + PeopleApple Cupertino, CA
Daniel BrennanCHRO BombardierMontreal, Canada
Laura KohlerSenior Vice President - Human Resources, Stewardship and SustainabilityKohlerKohler, WI
Claudine NaughtonChief Human Resources OfficerInterior Logic Group, Inc.Los Angeles, CA
Cheryl JohnsonChief Human Resources OfficerCaterpillar Deerfield, IL
Beth PatrickCHRO Diebold NixdorfHudson, OH
Christine DeputyChief People OfficerPinterestSan Francisco, CA
Marissa AndradaChief Diversity, Inclusion & People OfficerChipotleNewport Beach, CA
Anne PearceCHROShell London, United Kingdom
Nickle LaMoreauxChief Human Resources OfficerIBMArmonk NY
Gianna DriverCHRO & Chief People OfficerBlueVineRedwood City, CA
Kristina JohnsonChief People OfficerOktaSan Francisco, CA
Jacqueline M. WelchEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerThe New York TImes New York City, NY
Francine KatsoudasCHRO & Chief People OfficerCiscoSan Jose, CA
Jacqui CanneyCHROService NowSanta Clara, CA
Ashley GoldsmithCHROWorkdayPleasanton, CA
Sabine KohleisenMember of the Board of Management; HR & Director of Labor RelationsMercedes-Benz GroupStuttgart, Germany
2021 RankNameTitleCompany
1Beth-WhitedBeth WhitedEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerUnion Pacific
2Carol SurfaceCarol SurfaceEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerMedtronic
3Tim HuvalTim HuvalChief Administrative Officer & CHROHumana
4Teuila HansonTeuila HansonSVP & Chief People OfficerLinkedin
5Katarina BergKatarina BergChief Human Resources OfficerSpotify
6Lucy Hur | Chief People OfficerLucy HurChief People OfficerSlalom Consulting
7Roseann LynchRoseann LynchCPO & Head of Ralph Lauren Corporate FoundationRalph Lauren Corporation
8Mary George OppermanMary George OppermanVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerCornell University
9Russ HageyRuss HageyPartner & Worldwide Chief Talent OfficerBain
10Mona MaloneMona MaloneCHRO & Head of People and CultureBMO Financial Group
11Jeff StoicheffJeff StoicheffSenior Vice President, Human ResourcesPenske Logistics
12Monique MathesonMonique MathesonEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerNike
13Christine Rogers-RaetschChristine Rogers-RaetschChief People OfficerDuolingo
14Kristi-Cappelletti-MatthewsKristi Cappelletti-MatthewsChief Human Resources OfficerVSP Global
15Sven OddensSven OddensEVP & Group Human Resources DirectorJustEat Takeaway
16Katie BurkeKatie BurkeChief People OfficerHubSpot
17Christina WilburCristina WilburChief People OfficerRoche
18Anna FraserAnna FraserChief People OfficerSonos
19Debra ThompsonDebra ThompsonChief People OfficerChegg
20Alexandra BrandãoAlexandra BrandãoHead of Human ResourcesBanco Santander
21Kit HerreraKit HerreraSenior Vice President, Human ResourcesDiscovery, Inc.
22Ellyn-ShookEllyn ShookChief Leadership & Human Resources OfficerAccenture
23Lynne Oldham Chief People Officer ZoomLynne OldhamChief People OfficerZoom
24Frank LopezFrank LopezEVP & Chief Human Resources OfficerRyder System Inc.
25Matt Breitfelder Apollo Global ManagementMatthew BreitfelderGlobal Head of Human Capital & Senior PartnerApollo Global Management
26Stan DuncanStan DuncanChief People OfficerConde Nast
27Gloria ChenGloria ChenChief People Officer & EVP, Employee ExperienceAdobe
28Cordelia AbreuCordelia AbreuSenior Vice President, Human Resources AmericasDHL Express
29Anne LebelAnne LebelGroup CHROCapgemini
30Tracey FranklinTracey FranklinChief Human Resources OfficerModerna
31Lisa ChangLisa ChangGlobal Chief People OfficerThe Coca-Cola Company
32Rich JacquetRich JacquetChief People OfficerCoursera
33Brent HyderBrent HyderPresident & Chief People OfficerSalesforce
34Abdulaziz Al AliAbdulaziz Al AliExecutive Vice President, Human ResourcesEmirates Air
35Stacy GreenStacy GreenEVP & Chief People OfficerSony Pictures Entertainment
36Donna MorrisDonna MorrisExecutive Vice President, Chief People OfficerWalmart
37Cathy FraserCathy FraserChief Human Resources OfficerMayo Clinic
38Mary BilbreyMary BilbreyGlobal Chief Human Resources OfficerJLL
39Sean WoodroffeSean WoodroffeSenior EVP & Chief People OfficerTIAA
40Cheryl LloydCheryl LloydVP, Systemwide HR and Chief Human Resources OfficerUniversity of California

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