Hanold Associates Launches HR Advisory Practice
March 22, 2021 – Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has launched a new HR advisory practice. Neela Seenandan, co-CEO and managing partner, is leading the practice. “The past year has many organizations experiencing the challenges of not having the right level of HR leadership. Whilst transforming or pivoting their organizations or HR functions they need strong HR leaders to bridge the gap from current to aspirational state,” she said. “Being a part of the executive team, subsumed within the company, we are well positioned to provide deep expertise and immediately leverageable counsel. We are experiencing increased demand for this executive and HR advisory partnership.”
Hanold Associates’ HR advisory practice is a formal articulation of the growing body of work in the consulting, advisory and interim HR officer services that the firm has provided for many clients, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the New York Times Co., Madison Dearborn-owned InMoment and Ferrara Candy (now part of Ferrero International), among others. In addition to leading the HR advisory practice, Ms. Seenandan will continue to lead executive HR and diversity, equity, and inclusion searches at the search firm. She joined Hanold Associates from Nielsen eight and a half years ago, where she served as senior vice president of human resources for North America consumer. Ms. Seenandan was responsible for driving the strategic talent agenda, including recruiting, compensation, talent management and diversity and inclusion. She has also served in progressive HR leadership positions for Aon Corp. and McKinsey & Company, working closely with senior executive teams to drive results in areas such as M&A, talent management, organizational effectiveness, DE&I, talent acquisition and leadership development.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice
Last year, Hanold Associates 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.
“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.”
Hanold Associates Recruits Chief People Officer for the Arizona Cardinals Football Club
Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search recently recruited Kelly Jones as chief people officer of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. CEO and managing partner Jason Hanold and partners Keri Gavin and Katrina Prospero led the assignment.
“Kelly is a very special person and phenomenal executive who possess the perfect blend of leadership, wisdom and experience,” said Ms. Gavin. “Kelly and Michael Bidwill have fostered a strong relationship through this fast-moving process, and Kelly will be a trusted advisor to Michael and the team. We know Kelly will have a profound and lasting impact on both the Cardinals and the Greater Phoenix area. We can’t wait to see the immediate impact he’ll have on the lives of many.”
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.”
Hanold Associates is a boutique executive search firm focused on HR and diversity and inclusion officers. Its client list is diverse across industries, geographies, and business scenarios. Its clients include the National Football League, Zoom, Domino’s Pizza, Under Armour, Patagonia, Gucci, the New York Times, Tom Brady’s TB12, Kohler, REI, Live Nation Entertainment, Dick’s Sporting Goods, McDonald’s, Major League Baseball, Kellogg, Apollo, Big Ten Conference, Blackstone, TPG, L Catterton, Northwestern University, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Electronic Arts, Fiat-Chrysler, SC Johnson, eBay, Moderna, Hillrom, Great Place To Work, Fossil, Vail Resorts, AbbVie, Carnival Corp., Biogen, Allstate, Bridgestone, Wikimedia, ClubCorp, Nike, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Ford Motor Co., among others.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
