Last 12 Months Most Significant CHRO Moves Across Global Organizations

In 2026, CHRO appointments are going to be more about intent and less about turnover. Globally, organizations did not simply fill vacancies. They made deliberate leadership choices to reset people's agendas, strengthen execution capability, and align workforce strategy with enterprise priorities.

Over the first three quarters of 2025, global CHRO hiring rebounded markedly after a slowdown in 2024. According to Russell Reynolds Associates’ Global CHRO Turnover Index, 127 CHRO appointments were recorded worldwide in Q1–Q3, nearly restoring the seven-year average of 131. Within that total, 59 appointments occurred among S&P 500 companies, the strongest showing since 2020, and signaling renewed organizational emphasis on people leadership at the highest level.

This rebound reflects shifting enterprise priorities. Organizational leaders are navigating talent scarcity, digital acceleration, and investor demands for sustained performance. Boards and CEOs increasingly sought CHROs with experience in transformation and scale, positioning them as enterprise partners accountable for leadership effectiveness and talent acquisition.

These CHRO appointments stand out as the most strategically significant moves of this year.

1. Natalie Rothman – Chief Human Resources Officer, The Hershey Company
With over 25 years of HR experience, Natalie Rothman takes the helm of Hershey’s global HR function. Her leadership is expected to advance workforce transformation and leverage AI tools to drive efficiency, particularly for frontline teams, as part of Hershey’s global expansion strategy.

2. Stacey Valy Panayiotou – Chief Human Resources Officer, Kimberly-Clark
Stacey Valy Panayiotou leads talent recruitment, development, and performance alignment with Kimberly-Clark’s “Powering Care” growth strategy. With more than two decades of global HR leadership, her appointment underscores the link between people capability and enterprise strategy.

3. Karan Bajwa – Chief Human Resources Officer, Honasa Consumer
Karan Bajwa steps into the CHRO role at Honasa Consumer following his tenure as Senior Vice President – Human Resources. His focus centers on organizational capability, inclusion, and performance across the company’s personal care and beauty brands.

4. Bernard Bedon, Ph.D. – Chief Human Resources Officer, Levi Strauss & Co.
Bernard Bedon brings nearly three decades of global HR experience to Levi Strauss & Co., leading people strategy during a phase of transformation. His background in enterprise HR at Nike equips him to strengthen workforce capability across global brands.

5. Samantha Charleston – Chief Human Resources Officer, Bath & Body Works
Samantha Charleston takes charge of Bath & Body Works’ HR operations, reinforcing strategic people leadership in a major retail organization. Her appointment strengthens the company’s focus on talent management as a driver of performance.

6. Alanna Mahone – Chief Human Resources Officer, FirstKey Homes
Alanna Mahone steps into the CHRO role at FirstKey Homes, one of the largest single-family rental home providers in the United States. She leads people strategy, organizational culture, leadership development, and workforce effectiveness across more than 50,000 homes and 28 markets, aligning talent initiatives with the company’s operational goals.

7. Matt Price – Chief Human Resources Officer, Lactalis Canada
Based in Toronto, Matt Price assumes responsibility as CHRO at Lactalis Canada. He leads the company’s national HR agenda covering talent development, organizational culture, industrial relations, and total rewards for a workforce exceeding 4,000 employees.

8. Utsav Khandelwal – Chief Human Resources Officer, Jaquar Group
Utsav Khandelwal’s appointment at Jaquar Group marks a significant step in strengthening the company’s global people and culture strategy. In this role, he will align human capital practices with business objectives across more than 55 countries, reinforcing HR’s role as a strategic partner in growth and cultural cohesion.

9. Renata Andres – Chief Human Resources Officer, Europe, The Greenbrier Companies
Renata Andres takes on HR leadership across The Greenbrier Companies’ European operations. Her responsibilities include organizational development, talent acquisition, workforce engagement, and leadership development across the region.

10. Alejandra Piñol – Chief Human Resources Officer & Global People & Culture Manager, Ingka Group (IKEA)
With extensive leadership experience across global organizations, Alejandra Piñol takes charge of Ingka Group’s People & Culture function effective January 1, 2026. Her role focuses on leadership alignment and cultural coherence across markets supporting the group’s global operations.

Wrapping Up

Taken together, the most notable CHRO appointments share a common thread. Organizations are selecting leaders with credibility beyond HR, experience in transformation, and the ability to operate as true enterprise partners to the CEO.

One thing is clear: leadership is now viewed as a central lever for enterprise resilience, not a supporting function.

It is defined by impact.

In 2026, the organizations that treat leadership as a strategic differentiator, not a support function, are likely to extend the momentum seen in 2025. The recent wave of appointments suggests that many are already acting on that belief.