As the calendar flips to January 2024, the business world witnessed a series of noteworthy changes in the executive suites. Some seasoned professionals embraced the challenge of transitioning from larger corporations to the dynamic world of startups, while others ventured into new sectors, bringing with them a wealth of experience to enrich work cultures and people strategies. 

Without any more delay, let's delve into the movements in top leadership positions that took place in the first month of the year, providing a sneak peek into the exciting dynamics reshaping the corporate hierarchy.

Manjunath Kygonahally – Birlasoft

Birlasoft, a division of the diversified C.K. Birla Group appointed Manjunath Kygonahally (Manju) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Rest of the World (ROW) region. Manju, a seasoned professional in the services industry, brought extensive expertise in Market Strategy, Business Development, Service Delivery, and Operations. 

His most recent role was with Cognizant, where he led the communications, media & entertainment (CMT) business for Cognizant’s Global Growth Markets based in London. The new CEO is now stationed in the UK. 

Roanne Parry – CSL

CSL, the global biotechnology company, appointed Roanne Parry as its Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). In her role, Roanne is tasked with further enhancing CSL's People strategy to position the company as a global employer of choice. This involves driving CSL's competitive advantage and external reputation by attracting, developing, rewarding, and retaining top talent on a global scale. 

With over 25 years of global experience in the healthcare industry, Roanne brings a wealth of demonstrated leadership and expertise in various areas, including organisational development, diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) strategies, talent acquisition and management, total reward strategies, transformational change, and leadership development.

Camie Shelmire – Coalfire

Coalfire, the global cybersecurity solutions firm, appointed Camie Shelmire as its new Chief People Officer. With approximately 25 years of experience, Camie, who previously served in the same capacity at Brillio, brought expertise in talent acquisition strategy, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, employee engagement efforts, and organisational culture development. 

In her new role, she is playing a crucial part in fortifying Coalfire's culture and talent pool as the company continues to expand its workforce on a global scale. Camie's past roles include positions at prominent technology and consulting firms, such as Executive Vice President at Capgemini, Senior Manager of Advisory and Financial Services Practice at KPMG US, and leadership roles at IHS Markit and Nationstar Mortgage.

Annette Morrison – GraceKennedy

GraceKennedy Group appointed Annette Morrison as their new Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Committee. Annette succeeded Naomi Holness, who retired from the Senior HR Business Partner role on December 31, 2023. 

In her new role, Annette is bringing a wealth of experience, having recently served as the Director of Shared Services at the Barbados Light & Power Co. Her return to GraceKennedy, where she previously worked as Head of Talent and Global Mobility for over six years before leaving in 2018, marked a significant development for the company. 

Sunil Taldar - Airtel Africa

Airtel Africa welcomed Sunil Taldar as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in January. He succeeded the outgoing CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, who is set to retire on July 1, 2024. Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as the Director of Operations and Transformation, will collaborate closely with CEO Ogunsanya over the next six months to ensure a seamless transition. 

In his new role, Taldar brings over 35 years of industry experience. Associated with Bharti Airtel since 2016, he has transitioned into several leadership roles. Prior to joining Airtel, he held positions with Mondelez Indonesia as the Country Head, Cadbury India as the Director of Sales and International Business, and Cadbury China as the Director of Sales.

Yung C. Ooi, Andy Chiang, Ji Hun (Michael) Han, Chee Choong Ng - DHL Express

DHL Express announced several senior executive appointments in January. Yung C. Ooi was brought in as the Senior Vice President for Commercial, Andy Chiang as the Managing Director for DHL Express Hong Kong & Macau, Ji Hun (Michael) Han as the Managing Director for DHL Express Korea, and Chee Choong Ng as the Managing Director for DHL Express Taiwan. 

These changes come as Yasmin Khan and Byung Koo Han retire after significant years of service. Yasmin, the Executive Vice President of Commercial and Managing Director of Emerging Markets, will be succeeded by Yung. On the other hand, Byung Koo, who served as the Country Manager for DHL Express Korea, will be succeeded by Ji Hun. 

Following these changes, Yung will be succeeded by Chee Choong, whose role as the Managing Director for Hong Kong and Macau will be taken over by Andy. Both Yasmin and Byung Koo have been with the express delivery service company since 2001 and 2008, respectively. The newly appointed leaders are set to play a crucial role in strengthening DHL Express's presence across the Asia Pacific region.

Shantini Ramachandra - Alvarez & Marsal Tax

Alvarez & Marsal Tax appointed Shantini Ramachandra as the new Managing Director and Tax ASEAN Lead. With over 31 years of industry expertise covering international tax, M&A tax, and private client services, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role. Prior to her appointment, Shantini served as a Board Member at National Parks Singapore and held the position of Partner at Deloitte. She also spent over 18 years at PwC Singapore, where she served as a Director. 

Sebastien de Tramasure – Sodexo

Sodexo appointed Sebastien de Tramasure as their new Chief Financial Officer, marking part of a planned leadership transition as Marc Rolland stepped down after eight years. With nearly 18 years of experience at Sodexo, Sebastien held various finance roles within the company and is well-prepared to take on this new responsibility. 

Anders Rian - Ericsson Group

Anders Rian was appointed as the Head of Ericsson Thailand and President of Ericsson’s legal entity in Thailand. In his new role, Anders took over responsibilities from Igor Maurell, who transitioned to a new position as the Head of Global Journey Transformation within the Group. 

With a history of association with the Group since 2000, Anders has held key leadership roles, including Vice President and Key Account Manager for Malaysia and Vice President and Key Account Manager for Indonesia. 

Dorria Ball - The Honest Company

The Honest Company, a digitally-native consumer products company specialising in clean- and sustainably designed products, officially appointed Dorria L. Ball as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Ball had been serving in this role on an interim basis since August 2023. In her capacity as CHRO, Dorria is responsible for overseeing people and workplace functions. She will work closely with the executive leadership team to support the strategic execution of the transformation initiative and the company's growth journey.

Sehr Ahmed - Singapore Post

Singapore Post (SingPost), a leading postal and eCommerce logistics provider in the Asia Pacific region, appointed Sehr Ahmed as its new Group Chief People Officer. In her role as the Group Chief People Officer, Sehr is tasked with creating a vibrant and purpose-driven culture across SingPost's group of companies. 

With over 30 years of global leadership experience spanning Asia, the Middle East, USA, Canada, and Australia, Sehr brings a wealth of knowledge in driving business growth and cultural transformation across diverse industries.

Al Adamsen – Perceptyx

Perceptyx announced the appointment of Al Adamsen as the Senior Vice President of Leader and Workforce Transformatio in January. Al Adamsen brought over 25 years of extensive experience in people analytics and HR strategy, focusing on employee well-being, performance, and the impact of individuals, teams, groups, and organisations. 

Prior to joining Perceptyx, he served as the Founder and CEO of People Analytics & Future Of Work (PAFOW), leading conferences and academies dedicated to enhancing the impact of people analytics, workforce planning, and employee experience professionals since 2008. 

Lori Copeland – Provenir

Provenir, a US-based fintech platform, brought in Lori Copeland as Chief People Officer. In her new role at Provenir, Lori brings over 20 years of HR expertise spanning healthcare, science, information technology, energy, electrical manufacturing, and IT consulting sectors. She is responsible for developing and executing HR strategy in alignment with business goals, as well as leading and guiding the entire HR function in the recruitment of new talent and global expansion. 

Prior to her appointment, Lori worked with LGC as the Vice President of Global Human Resources for over six years. Before that, she held positions at a GE subsidiary, Current, as the Global HR Leader of Digital, Pegasystems as the Global Human Resources Director, and Avnet as the Senior Regional Manager of Human Resources. 

Jacques Fourie – Bridgestone

Jacques Fourie was appointed as the President of Bridgestone Middle East Africa. Last year, he was appointed as the Vice President and Managing Director of Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (EMIA), transitioning from his role as Group CEO of Bridgestone South Africa. 

With over two decades of experience, Fourie joined the Bridgestone Group in 2019 as the Group CEO for its South African operations. He played a key role in instilling a culture of transformation within the company, resulting in restored profitability, growth in market share, certification as a Top Employer, and achieving BBB-EE level 1 contributor status, aligning with the South African government's transformational program.

Harry Harden - Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive Inc announced the appointment of Harry Harden as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Harden took over responsibilities from Angela Broadway, who retired on December 31, 2023. In his new role, Harden, who rejoined the automotive company in 2021, brings over 25 years of HR expertise in the automobile and textile manufacturing sectors. 

His core competencies include HR operations, benefits, compliance, recruitment, and performance management, which will further enhance Sonic’s commitment to providing an exceptional employee experience. In his previous roles, Harden worked with Sonic Automotive for over 14 years in the capacity of Vice President of Human Resources before stepping down in 2015. 

Rachel Kaiser – VelocityEHS

VelocityEHS announced the promotion of Rachel Kaiser to the position of Chief People Officer. Rachel, who has served as the Vice President of Human Resources at the company for the last 14 years, is now working directly with CEO Matt Airhart. In her new role, Rachel brings around 30 years of industry expertise in Human Capital Management, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Team Leadership, Human Resources (HR), and Talent Acquisition and Management. 

She has been associated with the company since 2000 when MSDSonline, her previous company, was acquired by VelocityEHS. Rachel played a key role in developing strategies to optimize employee engagement and business success as Velocity has grown organically and through more than a half dozen global acquisitions.

Amy Thompson, Eric Chan - Gap Inc

Gap Inc, a leading retailer of clothing and accessories, made significant appointments to its senior leadership team, with Amy Thompson joining as Chief People Officer and Eric Chan as Chief Business and Strategy Officer. Both Amy and Eric are working directly with Richard Dickson, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the retail company

Amy Thompson, assuming the role of Chief People Officer, brought over 25 years of core HR experience in various retail brands. Prior to her appointment at Gap Inc., she served as Chief People Officer at Mattel and held roles at TOMS, Starbucks, and Ticketmaster. 

Eric Chan, with over 20 years of industry leadership experience across finance and operations, took on the position of Chief Business and Strategy Officer. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer for the LA Clippers for over five years and has worked with The Bouqs Company, Loot Crate, Mattel, Cisco, and Nico Corp. These appointments aim to strengthen Gap Inc.'s leadership team as it undergoes strategic transformations in the evolving retail landscape.

Genevieve Vancutsem-Zednik – GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide, the Germany-based travel startup, appointed Genevieve Vancutsem-Zednik as its new Chief People Officer, effective from March 2024. Currently serving as the Chief People Officer for Europe and Asia operations at Wayfair, Genevieve brought over 23 years of experience to her new role. 

In her capacity as Chief People Officer at GetYourGuide, Genevieve is overseeing the overall HR and People Strategy for the travel startup, managing a team of 800 employees spread across its 17 offices globally. Her responsibilities extend to leading key strategic initiatives for the company's expansion across the Americas and other regions, all while maintaining a focus on talent management and fostering a positive work culture. 

Hassan Fahmi – GSK

GSK Group appointed Hassan Fahmi as the Managing Director to oversee business operations in Egypt. Hassan succeeded Dr Mohamed El-Dababy, transitioned to a global position at GSK's headquarters in London. Hassan initially joined the company as the General Manager for Egypt in October of the previous year, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience to his current role. 

With core competencies in communication, business strategy, executive management, analytical skills, FMCG, marketing planning and management, and business development, Hassan has a robust background. Before joining GSK, he held leadership positions at Novo Nordisk, Juhayna Food Industries, Pharos Holding for Financial Investments, and Americana Foods. His diverse experience is expected to contribute to the continued success and growth of GSK's operations in Egypt.

Mohan Shamsher - Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra elevated Mohan Shamsher to the position of Recruitment Head for APAC, China & Japan, A&Z. Formerly serving as the Head of Recruitment Onsite-APJ-China and Japan, Shamsher joined Tech Mahindra in 2006 as the Group Manager-Recruitment in Pune. 

Bringing more than 22 years of experience to his new role, Shamsher is adept in designing recruitment strategy, client/stakeholder management, team building, engagement, retention, new tool implementation, reporting & analytics, change management, and talent research & consulting. 

Sivananthan Sukumaran, Matthias Gehrsitz, Louis Liao - DHL Supply Chain

DHL Supply Chain made three key leadership appointments in Asia Pacific. Sivananthan Sukumaran, formerly the Managing Director of DHL Supply Chain Indonesia, was appointed as the Head of Operations for DHL Supply Chain Southeast Asia. In his new role, Siva is focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and overseeing the successful implementation of new business initiatives in the Southeast Asian cluster. 

Matthias Gehrsitz assumed the position of Managing Director for DHL Supply Chain Indonesia, taking over from Sivananthan. Gehrsitz brought 11 years of experience from DB Schenker Malaysia, where he held various roles in project management, tender management, solution design, and operations, eventually serving as the National Head of Business Development and Commercial Management. 

Louis Liao was appointed as the new Managing Director of DHL Supply Chain Taiwan. These appointments reflected DHL Supply Chain's commitment to strengthening its leadership team in the Asia Pacific region.

Kim Mota - Barracuda Networks

Barracuda Networks, a US-based IT security company, appointed Kim Mota as its new Chief Human Resources Officer. Kim, with over 28 years of HR leadership experience in various sectors including IT, retail, manufacturing, BFSI, and telecommunications, is playing a key role in overseeing employee success aligned with the company's business growth and expansion strategy. 

Before joining Barracuda Networks, Kim served as the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Poly for over four years, and she has held HR leadership roles at companies like Integrated Device Technology (IDT), Yahoo, Cypress Semiconductor Corp., and the Home Depot.

Hamdy Elshantoury – Maserati

Maserati, the leading luxury vehicle manufacturer, appointed Hamdy Elshantoury as the head of the newly established organisation in the Overseas region, overseeing the US & Canada (North America), Europe, China, Japan, and Korea. In his role as Managing Director, Hamdy is spearheading Maserati's business expansion in these regions, with interim responsibilities in the Middle East and Africa. 

The company has also appointed Wong Yi Mui Wallace to oversee SEAP & India markets and Marco Spadaro to handle the East Europe and Latin American markets. Hamdy, based in Italy, is collaborating closely with the new Overseas Region leadership team, aiming to streamline central management for enhanced support to markets and faster decision-making, while the market management team will maintain close ties within the respective countries.

Elizabeth Rafferty – Dentsu

Dentsu named Elizabeth Rafferty as the Global Practices HR Lead. In this capacity, she is guiding HR strategies across global practice areas and supervising the global HR M&A function. Elizabeth, who previously served as the Global Chief People Officer at Merkle in the US, is an accomplished HR executive with a proven track record in global HR and talent management, M&A integration, HR consulting, coaching, and organisational transformation.

Dino Siason - Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank appointed Dino Siason as the Chief Country Officer and Head of Corporate Bank for the Philippines. Siason took over responsibilities from Michael Chua, who retired after a 30-year career in the industry. In his new role, Siason is leading the bank's corporate and investment operations, playing a crucial role in the Asia Pacific region for back and middle office functions globally. He is reporting directly to Burkhard Ziegenhorn, Head of Corporate Bank for Southeast Asia and Australia, and Kaushik Shaparia, CEO, Emerging Asia, and Chief Country Officer of India.

Sung Eun Ahn – Stonepeak

Stonepeak, the digital investment platform, appointed Sung Eun Ahn as the Chairman for the Korea region, effective from February 1, 2024. Sung Eun, based in Seoul, will support Stonepeak's APAC operations and investment strategies in the region. With over three decades of financial services and leadership experience, Sung Eun most recently served as the Chief Country Officer for Korea at Deutsche Bank. Prior to that, he held the position of Head of Investment Banking for Korea at BofA Securities (formerly Bank of America Merrill Lynch).

Joyce Butler – Revelyst

Revelyst appointed Joyce Butler as its new Chief Human Resources Officer. With over 25 years of experience spanning healthcare, technology, and entertainment sectors, Joyce will be responsible for driving the talent strategy of the organisation. Prior to joining Revelyst, she served as the CHRO and Senior Vice President at Avid Technology for over two years. 

Joyce held leadership roles at PTC, Unispace, Hasbro, Lifespan, and Citizen Bank, and she has a strong background in talent strategy, executive compensation planning, HR transformation, organisational development, HR consulting, employee engagement, corporate training, and more. 

Dinesh Venugopal – Infogain

Dinesh Venugopal was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Infogain, a US-based software company, effective from February 8, 2024. He will succeed Ayan Mukerji, who is retiring after 35 years of service. Dinesh brings over 25 years of leadership experience to the role, having recently served as the President of Concentrix since 2022. 

Prior to that, he held positions such as CEO at PK, President at Mphasis, and Director of Research and Development at BMC Software. His expertise includes cloud computing, agile methodologies, software project management, solution architecture, pre-sales, CRM, vendor management, and program management.

Michele McDermott - Thor Industries

Michele McDermott appointed as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Thor Industries, a global manufacturer of Recreational Vehicles. With almost three decades of HR leadership experience across various sectors, including supply chain, BFSI, transport and communication, and real estate, Michele is overseeing HR strategy, covering operations, talent management, diversity and inclusion, safety, and compensation and benefits. She joined the executive team and is working directly with President and CEO Bob Martin.

Marwan Zeineddine – SAP

Marwan Zeineddine appointed as the new Managing Director for SAP's UAE operations. Having returned to SAP in 2019, Marwan brought over two decades of industry expertise to his new role. Previously serving as the Executive Director for Strategic Industries in the UAE, he is responsible for overseeing the digital transformation and AI capabilities of companies in the region. 

Marwan is working directly with Sergio Maccotta, Senior VP of SAP MEA and South. Before rejoining SAP, he worked with LinkedIn as the Head of Key Accounts & Emerging Markets for the MENA region. Prior to that, he served SAP as the Senior Account Director in the UAE and Business Systems House (BSH) as the Business Development & Sales Manager.