RiseSmart Appoints Chief Commercial Officer
December 22, 2017 – RiseSmart, a provider of contemporary career transition services – a space which more search firms are looking at entering – has named Karen O’Boyle as its chief commercial officer. Ms. O’Boyle, an experienced leader of human capital organizations with over two decades of outplacement experience, joins the company to further accelerate its global expansion and business momentum.
Prior to joining RiseSmart, Ms. O’Boyle was president of global outplacement and redeployment firm, Mullin International, and a key leader responsible for executing the recent sale of that firm. She was also president and CEO of talent management conglomerate, Career Partners International, executive vice president of global sales for Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) and senior vice president with Right Management.
Proven Track Record
Ms. O’Boyle has a history of helping organizations shape and execute business strategies at an accelerated pace, while improving shareholder value. She brings a unique portfolio of specialized experience and a history of scaling companies for global growth to the RiseSmart team. In her new role, she will be responsible for business development, customer relationships and the company’s growth goals.
“The addition of Karen to the team is a big win for RiseSmart, our employees and our customers,” said Dan Davenport, recently appointed president and general manager of RiseSmart. “Karen is a mastermind and one of the most highly sought-after leaders in the outplacement business and human capital industry.”
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“With a strong leadership team and a clear mission, RiseSmart is on the fast track to becoming the global leader in career transitions,” said Chris Kibarian, chief executive officer of Randstad Digital Ventures. “The addition of Karen O’Boyle’s experienced leadership, customer-orientation, and knowledge of the industry will have a significant impact on driving the company’s growth.”
“I’m excited to join the RiseSmart team and further accelerate the global growth of the company,” said Ms. O’Boyle. “The company’s unwavering commitment to customer success and focus on delivering the best results in the industry are just two of the reasons that I am thrilled to be a part of the team.”
RiseSmart, a Randstad company, is a provider of contemporary career transition services for organizations in more than 40 industries and 70 countries. It combines dedicated career coaching and personal branding with patented technology and tools to support transitioning employees. RiseSmart partners with HR teams and provides onsite support, specialized training and secure reporting in a results-oriented approach.
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Chief Commercial Officers
The chief commercial officer is essentially responsible for the commercial strategy and the development of an organization. It typically involves activities relating to marketing, sales, product development and customer service to drive business growth and market share. As a corporate officer position, the CCO generally reports directly to the CEO and is primarily concerned with ensuring the integrated commercial success of an organization. The role typically must combine technical knowledge of the relevant field with strong marketing and business development skills.
Essentially, a CCO takes ownership of the customer and the customer interface with the product or service offering, making sure that all functions of the organization are aligned to meet its strategic commercial objectives. This means that the role is closely linked to the organization’s strategic management function, in drafting, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable an organization to achieve its long-term objectives.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
