Allen Austin Recruits CHRO for James Avery Artisan Jewelry
September 4, 2024 – Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has assisted in the recruitment of Ty Richardson as the new chief human resources officer of James Avery Artisan Jewelry in Kerrville, TX. “We are thrilled to announce the successful placement of Ty Richardson as the new chief human resources officer at James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a brand renowned for its timeless, handcrafted jewelry,” Allen Austin said. “With over two decades of HR leadership experience, Ty is set to lead James Avery’s people strategy, building on a legacy of excellence and innovation. Join us in welcoming Ty to the James Avery family.”
With over 20 years of experience as a human resources executive, Mr. Richardson is passionate about developing and executing data-driven people strategies that drive business outcomes and enhance employee experience. Most recently, he served as vice president of human resources at Humana. In this role, Mr. Richardson was instrumental in shaping organizational culture and workforce strategies for the $100 billion healthcare giant, contributing to the growth and development of over 65,000 employees.
Prior to that, Mr. Richardson was vice president of talent strategy and workforce analytics at USAA, a $36 billion revenue financial services company providing insurance and banking products exclusively to members of the military, veterans, and their families. Before that, he was an HR executive with Bank of America. During his career, Mr. Richardson also gained experience in senior positions with Dell and General Electric.
As the CHRO at James Avery, Mr. Richardson will work with a team of HR professionals who passionately nurture the company’s vision, mission, and values with integrity and excellence. “The company’s commitment to its associates and its strong values resonate deeply with me,” Mr. Richardson said. “I look forward to working with an amazing team, building on a strong foundation and rich legacy to advance the people strategy.”
James Avery Jewelry offers high quality, artfully crafted jewelry in sterling silver, gold and gemstones. From a one man’s endeavor in his mother-in-law’s garage, the company has grown into a team of 2,000 designers, craftsmen, sales associates, and support staff offering unique designs to customers throughout the nation.
Allen Austin is a top 40 global management consulting firm specializing in executive search and leadership advisory services. Founded in 1996, the firm partners with boards, CEOs and senior leaders of companies small and large, public and private, family-owned, private equity, venture-backed, domestic and international. Allen Austin has more than 30 partners managing client engagements from offices in 20 cities in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
CHROs Stepping Up in Challenging Times
A recent survey of 230 CHROs by Emilie Petrone, managing partner of Korn Ferry’s Princeton, NJ, office and a member of the firm’s human resources practice, explored how they are at the heart of today’s challenging work environment and how the pandemic is impacting their function. “The coronavirus challenge has put HR leaders front and center as they navigate everything from employee safety to personnel changes,” said the report. “These issues have brought to light the importance for HR organizations to continuously adjust and create a culture of trust and transparency. Indeed, the survey showed nearly a quarter of CHROs said their top priority was to create a culture of trust and transparency, followed by 21 percent who said they want to break down hierarchies and drive more agility.”
Related: 7 Qualities and Experiences Needed to be a CHRO
Ms. Petrone said that right now HR leaders are tasked with a massive strategic workforce planning balancing act. “They’re responsible for business viability and critical talent pipelines, organizational health and employee brand, both internally and externally,” she said. “They have to ensure ongoing engagement and performance while also managing the experience of employees who are not going to be part of the organization’s future. That’s a significant push and pull.”
Just Released: 2024 Corporate Culture Report
As leaders recognize the critical role of culture in organizational success, building sustainable cultural change for engagement, performance, and growth is now essential. Emphasizing psychological safety allows employees to express ideas, take risks, and voice concerns, driving innovation and engagement.
Hunt Scanlon Media’s 2024 Corporate Culture Report shows how a strong, cohesive culture transforms organizations. By prioritizing cultural synergies and shared values, companies can attract and retain top talent while fostering innovation. Download now!
The survey found that nearly half of CHROs (45 percent) think talent shortage and talent fit will have the greatest influence on their priorities going forward, and the pandemic has only reemphasized that thinking. While it’s too early to tell exactly how today’s business environment will affect long-term hiring trends, HR officers are already rethinking what their companies will need. “What we might have been looking for in leaders six months ago in a strong economy may be really different from what we need for the next 12, 24, or 36 months,” said Ms. Petrone. “Re-prioritized internal capabilities and redeploying the right leaders to the right roles will be critical.”
Upskilling current talent could become a much bigger priority for HR leaders in the future. According to the survey, 37 percent of the CHROs said upskilling the current workforce was the primary strategy for enabling success.
The global health crisis has shown that the future of work has invariably altered remote working, said the Korn Ferry report. Thirty percent of CHROs said leveraging digital tools was also key to employees’ success. While certain corporate cultures will prevail in needing people in the office, many HR leaders are already rethinking what collaboration and innovation look like in a post-pandemic digital era. “Shared workspaces and team space may not be viable, historic business models may need to transform, and the way work gets done and decisions get made, will be more critical to business success than ever before,” Ms. Petrone said.
Related: How to Become a Successful CHRO
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
