Quick Leonard Kieffer Seeks Chief People Officer for FirstHealth of the Carolinas

January 10, 2022 – 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, it is the chief people officer who typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with more emphasis put on culture, which includes values, ethics, and mission.

Today, the chief people officer position is still a relatively new title within the HR function. It first appeared about a decade ago. But now, 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. Quick Leonard Kieffer was recently picked to find a chief people officer for FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a private, not-for-profit healthcare network headquartered in Pinehurst, NC. Principal Jamie Cassedy is leading the assignment.

Quick Leonard Kieffer says that this is an outstanding opportunity for a talented senior-level human resources executive to join a dynamic regional healthcare delivery system with a history of integrated, high-quality, high-value health and wellness services across the continuum of care. This person will be tasked with evaluating the current operation and given autonomy to modernize and reshape the entire function. The chief people officer will devise a system-wide strategy for human resources, developing and creating a modern, highly disciplined, effective and efficient function in support of FirstHealth’s vision for the future.

FirstHealth of the Carolinas’s 5,300 employees serve 15 counties in the mid-Carolinas. Licensed for four hospitals with 610 beds, FirstHealth demonstrates says it is committed to treating the whole patient and to providing quality healthcare for the entire community. Firsthealth offers all major medical and surgical specialties and numerous subspecialties, including open-heart surgery, neurosurgery and neonatology. FirstHealth hospitals have an active medical staff of 266 with more than 93 percent board certified.

Founded in 1999, Quick Leonard Kieffer is a retained executive search firm with experience finding leaders for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, healthcare associations, life sciences companies, insurance companies and non-profits, among other clients. The firm is based in Chicago and has a track record of placing C-suite and other senior executives with leading, well-recognized healthcare organizations around the country.

Mr. Cassedy guides day-to-day operations of search assignments to ensure that that they run smoothly and progress to their ultimate goal. He joined the search firm in 2014 and throughout his career has completed over 100 C-suite and senior-level healthcare executive searches in the areas of operations, finance, medical affairs, nursing, human resources, and other disciplines. His clients range from large academic medical centers and healthcare systems to community hospitals, medical groups, associations, and biopharma companies.

Chief People Officer Recruiting

Executive search firms have been stepping up their efforts to assist companies across the nation to find new chief people officers. Here is a look at few recent searches from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners recently placed Kerry Unflat as chief people officer of Zipari, a modern consumer experience solution. Alex Bossetta led the assignment. “In this moment of continued growth and expansion, it’s more important than ever that we ensure our employees have what they need to succeed, inside and outside the office,” said Mark Nathan, CEO of Zipari. “With over 20 years of human resources and talent management experience – much of it with a fast-growing software company – Kerry is the perfect person for the job. We’re delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners has been retained by the Museum of Science in Boston to lead its search for a chief people officer. Spearheading the assignment are managing director Beth Schaefer and senior search associate Josyanne Roche. “At this critical time in its history, the Museum of Science is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven leader to serve as the next chief people officer,” said Koya Partners. “The CPO comes to the Museum of Science at an exciting time under new leadership and a renewed commitment to the great opportunity for impact that institutions like the Museum of Science can have in their community and in the world.”

WGNinHR Consulting was recently retained by venture-backed Arena to fills its chief people officer role. Reporting to the CEO, the chief people officer will play a critical partnership role in the company’s growth stages and beyond. The successful candidate will be able to quickly link the business strategy to a newly developed people strategy. She or he will lead major initiatives while ensuring that the company values remain as touchstones that continuously reinforce the desired culture.