accelHRate Recruits First Chief People Officer for NACD
August 28, 2020 – With the coronavirus crisis upon us, chief people officers are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping organizations navigate what is looking to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. As a recent article in The Economist put it: “They must keep employees healthy; maintain their morale; oversee a vast remote-working experiment; and, as firms retrench, consider whether, when and how to lay workers off. Their in-trays are bulging.” Executive recruiters across the business landscape concur.
Recently, HR executive search and management consulting firm accelHRate placed Tracy Gee as the first chief people officer of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). She will be responsible for the design and delivery of talent acquisition, talent management, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion, and organizational effectiveness.
2020 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recruiting Report:
Building a Balanced and Diverse Workforce
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“Tracy brings a wealth of experience to this new role within NACD, which I believe is key to NACD’s growth,” said Peter R. Gleason, CEO of NACD. “I am excited about the future with Tracy in this position, and for NACD as a whole.”
Ms. Gee has more than 25 years of human resources experience leading HR strategies and programs in multiple industries. She joins NACD from Raytheon Co., where she most recently served as vice president of human resources for the global business development function located in multiple domestic and international locations. In 2019, Ms. Gee was named by Savoy magazine as one of the Top 100 Women in Corporate America.
Ms. Gee formerly held numerous positions of increasing responsibility at Fidelity Investments and Liberty Mutual Co. She began her career at the First National Bank of Boston. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. Ms. Gee also holds an advanced certificate in organization development and human resources management from Columbia University.
The National Association of Corporate Directors empowers more than 21,000 directors to lead with confidence in the boardroom. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, its helps boards strengthen investor trust and public confidence.
Proven HR Recruiters
Headquartered in Herndon, VA, accelHRate is focused on placing chief human resources officers, financial officers and boards of directors. The firm’s team has placed hundreds of high impact HR executives across all industries and geographies. The firm was established in 2014.
Kimberly Shanahan is accelHRate’s founding president and CEO. She brings more than 25 years of business and executive search experience to the organization. She has partnered with hundreds of CEOs, board members and CHROs across multiple industries and geographies to place HR, CEO and board of directors talent. Previously, she spent eight years with Korn Ferry, where she led the HR center of expertise as senior client partner and simultaneously served as managing partner for the Northern Virginia office. She was also an active member of the CEO and board practice.
Kelly McPherson, partner and co-founder of accelHRate, brings close to 20 years of recruiting and management experience to the firm. In her role at accelHRate she focuses on chief human resources officers, heads of total rewards and heads of talent roles. Her clients range from Fortune 500 organizations to private equity portfolio companies across a range of industries, including technology, healthcare, B2B services, financial services, defense, industrial, retail and consumer services.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media