Kaplan Partners Assists the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with CHRO Search
September 6, 2024 – Kaplan Partners, which specializes in conducting searches for C-level executives primarily in the financial services, corporate financial, private investor, and technology sectors, has helped to recruit Christopher W. Jackson as CHRO of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Mr. Jackson joined the board’s human resources team and will serve as a member of the agency’s executive team. “Chris has extensive experience in human resources leadership in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors,” said the Reverend Dr. Frank Clark Spencer, president of the Board of Pensions. “Chris’ expertise in human resources strategy; culture-building; employee engagement; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and organizational development will be an asset in guiding the Board as we live our values.”
Mr. Jackson joined the agency from United Way Worldwide, where he was chief people and culture officer. At United Way Worldwide, Mr. Jackson was responsible for oversight and delivery of strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and people and culture to ensure alignment with strategic goals for recruitment, retention, and succession planning. He provided thought leadership and executive management for the organization’s talent strategy.
Prior to that, Mr. Jackson was the chief people officer for the National Kidney Foundation. He also founded his own human resources management consulting practice, where he advised clients including Fortune 500 executives.
“The Board of Pensions mission and rich history of service to the Church are what drew me to the organization,” said Mr. Jackson. “I look forward to sharing my talents and experience with the Board to build on our culture of belonging to ensure that all employees feel valued and engaged.”
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a mainline Protestant denomination in the United States. It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, known for its liberal stance on doctrine and its ordaining of women and members of the LGBT community as elders and ministers. It was established in 1983 and is located in Louisville, KY.
Based in Philadelphia, Kaplan Partners specializes in conducting searches for C-level executives primarily in the financial services, corporate financial, private investor, and technology sectors. The firm has completed numerous assignments for financial institution CEOs. In recent years, it has recruited top leaders for financial institutions, including placing the president and chief executive officer of 1st Colonial Bancorp and its subsidiary, 1st Colonial Community Bank, in Collingswood, NJ; chief financial officer for Severn Bancorp Inc. and its subsidiary, Severn Bank, in Annapolis, MD; and CEO and president of United Bankers’ Bank (UBB) and its holding company, United Bankers’ Bancorporation Inc., in Bloomington, MN.
Alan Kaplan launched Kaplan Partners in 1994 after beginning his corporate banking career with First Pennsylvania Bank and Meritor/PSFS. Since then he has built Kaplan Partners into a nationally recognized boutique executive search and talent advisory firm. Kaplan Partners has been named five times to the Philadelphia 100 as one of the region’s fastest-growing private companies and is a member of the Philadelphia 100 Hall of Fame.
CHRO Recruiting
CHROs have become critical stakeholders in defining the strategy of a company. Their job description calls for them to tackle the HR challenges and evolving expectations of a dynamic workplace environment that will consist of constant change, calculated risk-taking, and evolving expectations from top stakeholders. Those well-equipped to achieve the greatest success will have diverse skill-sets, be adaptable and agile, and gain hands-on learning from working through real life situations and acquiring knowledge across disciplines and industries. Here is a sampling of recent CHRO searches from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Maureen Pittenger as executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Domino’s Pizza. Jason Hanold, Lisa Butkus-Yae, Meg McElroy and Catie Nelson led the Ann Arbor, MI-based search. “We are excited to have Maureen join Domino’s as she brings a proven track record of building high-performing teams,” said Russell Weiner, CEO. “At Domino’s, our people are our competitive advantage, and Maureen’s expertise in leading workforce development on a global scale will help us get even better.” Ms. Pittenger joins Domino’s with more than 20 years of experience in human resources. She previously served as senior vice president and CHRO at Dana Inc., a position she held since 2022.
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has assisted in the recruitment of Dawn Zell Wright as the new chief human resources officer of LCMC Health in New Orleans, LA. “Dawn Zell Wright is a transformative leader who has played a key role in bringing together complex, growing healthcare systems through her strategic partnerships,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “Her ability to foster highly reliable organizations for patient outcomes, employee experience, and community impact makes her a perfect fit for LCMC Health. We are thrilled to welcome her to our team.” Ms. Wright brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles. She joined CHRISTUS Health in November 2021 as system vice president of human resources operations.
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, has been retained by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to find a chief human resources officer. Kim Dukes, Maureen Alphonse-Charles, and Andy Tarsy of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks a creative, collaborative, and experienced leader to serve as its next CHRO and head of its human resources division. This executive oversees human resources policies, practices, and activities for all executive branch employees in more than 70-plus agencies. This includes efforts to attract, retain, educate, and develop this diverse workforce while maintaining positive labor relations to ensure high-quality public services are provided to residents across the state.
Related: Kaplan Partners Recruits CHRO for Provident Bank
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
