Cowen Partners Assists Okland Construction with Chief People Officer Search
November 4, 2024 – Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resource officers play a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce, the chief people officer typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with more emphasis on culture, which includes values, ethics, and mission. As companies look to build internal brand awareness and set their sights more on establishing and driving their own unique cultures, CPOs are coming more into vogue. And executive search firms have been stepping up their efforts to assist companies across the nation to find new chief people officers.
Vancouver, WA-based Cowen Partners Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Nichelle Dekeyzer as its first-ever chief people officer of Okland Construction in Salt Lake City, UT. “This hire represents a major step forward for Okland,” said Bill Okland, CEO. “Nichelle’s expertise and vision will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of becoming one of the most sought-after companies in the industry by 2030. Her leadership will ensure that our people and culture remain at the forefront of everything we do.”
Ms. Dekeyzer brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as chief people officer at CB Insights, where she led initiatives in organizational design, change management, compensation, and company culture. “With significant experience in data-driven results, recruiting, leadership development, and strategic planning, coupled with a doctor of education in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California, she is well-equipped to lead Okland’s people strategy into the future,” Okland Construction said.
As Okland pursues its ambitious goal of becoming one of the most sought-after companies in the industry by 2030, a key component will be fostering a strong, dynamic organizational culture. Ms. Dekeyzer will play a pivotal role in this journey, overseeing the company’s human resources strategy, talent management, employee engagement, and overall organizational culture.
“I am thrilled to join Okland and contribute to the company’s mission of creating remarkable experiences,” said Ms. Dekeyzer. “I am committed to ensuring that our people strategies align with our goals of creating shared success, delivering value, standing out, earning trust, and remaining humble.”
Related: Cowen Partners Launches Operating Partners Cohort
Okland Construction is a full-service general contractor known for its construction manager at risk and design-build projects. With offices in Tempe, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT, and Boise, ID, Okland serves a diverse clientele in the Southwest and Mountain State. Okland specializes in a variety of project types including advanced manufacturing, healthcare office, higher education, municipal, and many other markets.
Cowen Partners serves both small and large, publicly traded, pre-IPO, private, and non-profit organizations. Its clients are typically $50 million to multi-billion-dollar revenue Fortune 1000 companies or have assets between $500 million to $15 billion. Placements span the entire C-suite and include VP and director-level leadership roles. Cowen Partners has placed hundreds of candidates in industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and private equity.
Experienced Consultants
Shawn Cole is president and co-founder of Cowen Partners. He is a serial entrepreneur and executive leader with over 15 years’ experience founding and running companies. His business career has been centered on value creation for both turnarounds and start-ups. Mr. Cole helps find executive talent, such as a CEO, CFO, COO, chief revenue officer, and chief marketing officer. Clients are both small and large, publicly traded, pre-IPO, private, and non-profit organizations, typically $50 million to multi-billion dollar revenue Fortune 1000 companies or have assets between $1 billion and $15 billion.
As a founding partner of Cowen Partners, Ash Wendt has drawn on his career experience in sales and executive recruiting. As a founding partner and practice leader for Cowen Partners sales and marketing division, Mr. Wendt has placed high-quality executives in positions such as chief revenue officer, chief marketing officer, vice president of sales, and vice president of marking, among others.
Related: Cowen Partners Establishes New Venture Fund
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
