Hanold Associates Launches Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice
July 6, 2020 – Hanold Associates has launched a global diversity, equity and inclusion practice and named Keri Gavin as practice leader. As one of the nation’s top C-suite HR leadership providers, the search firm has led dozens of critical chief diversity and inclusion officer searches for clients such Gucci, Live Nation Entertainment, Ford Motor Company, MGM Resorts International, Major League Baseball, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Raymond James, US Foods, AbbVie and Kellogg among others.
Although Hanold Associates is known for top HR search work, a significant body of successful DE&I search expertise has developed and accelerated at the firm. As a result, the firm’s name is evolving to reflect this expertise. The firm will now be called Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search.
“Hanold Associates has always been committed to advocating for and promoting organizational racial literacy, as a pathway towards ensuring better diversity success within their client companies,” said CEO Jason Hanold. “We will not take on a diversity and inclusion search if the role is more about optics vs. meaningful organizational impact, with true accountability and sufficient resources. We are experiencing a trend where the role of the CHRO is blended with the chief diversity officer.”
Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations is more than just the right ethical decision, “it is one of the best business decisions a company can make,” said Ms. Gavin. “Our global diversity, equity and inclusion practice will continue to help organizations prioritize DE&I as a business imperative that drives greater competitiveness, innovation and business results.”
Major League Baseball Selects Hanold Associates to Find Chief HR and Diversity Officer
Major League Baseball has turned to Chicago-based Hanold Associates to assist in recruiting a chief human resources and diversity officer. Jason Hanold, CEO and co-managing partner of the search firm, is leading the assignment along with partner Keri Gavin.
“The MLB has had a significant focus on diversity, most recently with Renee Tirado (recruited to Gucci) leading the effort, and Wendy Lewis before that (now at McDonald’s), but their HR efforts have had a strong labor relations focus,” said Mr. Hanold. “They are continuing to elevate the importance in the connectivity and interplay between diversity & inclusion efforts and HR evolving into a more holistic talent strategy and perspective.” MLB, he added, continues to make greater investments in its people, talent and diversity capabilities.
Ms. Gavin focuses on all functional areas of HR and diversity & inclusion. Her signature strength is being a personable, skilled relationship builder who is able to build trust and communicate important information effectively. Prior to joining Hanold Associates, she was director of host relations and consulting for Ragan Communications. Before Ragan, Ms. Gavin was a television anchor and reporter in Des Moines, IA. Her most memorable assignment was a one-on-one interview with First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.
Strong Diversity Outcomes
Hanold Associates is known for its consistently strong diversity outcomes in recruiting, with more than 80 percent of its candidates in VP and C-level searches ethnically diverse or women, according to the search firm. The firm’s team composition is also ethnically diverse, with 60 percent of its recruiting team ethnically diverse and 75 percent of the overall team female. Also, the firm is woman and ethnic-minority owned by co-CEO Neela Seenandan.
Related: To Improve Diversity, Recruiting Sector Must Set a New Course
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
