RiseSmart Appoints Three Executives to Manage Expanding Global Operations
June 4, 2018 – RiseSmart, a provider of contemporary career transition services – a space which more search firms are looking at entering – has announced the appointment of three executives to manage international operations and support the organization’s rapid global expansion.
Kevin Gounden was named the company’s new vice president, international strategy. Jasmine Sim was brought on as strategic relationship manager in Singapore. And Joel Paul was promoted to general manager, RiseSmart India, to support global expansion.
An experienced leader with a track record spanning more than 20 years, Mr. Gounden is charged with leading RiseSmart’s global strategy, direct global implementation and supporting teams to drive growth and results worldwide. Before he joined RiseSmart, he was co-founder and managing director of Teamery, an enterprise operations platform customized for the outplacement industry, based in Australia.
“RiseSmart is a forward-thinking outplacement services provider with a leadership team that understands the factors driving the transformation in the employee-employer relationship,” said Mr. Gounden. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the team that has such robust technology platforms and is helping companies succeed around the globe as they flex, adapt and transform their workforce in a rapidly-changing economy.”
A Growing Presence
A Randstad company, RiseSmart’s growing global presence includes the three offices in the APAC region — RiseSmart Australia and RiseSmart New Zealand since 2017 and more recently, RiseSmart Singapore. Ms. Sim comes to RiseSmart with nearly two decades of multinational experience in operation management, career transition and human resources. In her new role, she reports to Alison Monroe, national director of RiseSmart Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
“The addition of Jasmine gives us the breadth and depth of strategic experience to continue to grow in the APAC region,” said Ms. Monroe. “RiseSmart’s offerings support the changing needs of today’s workforce at all ages and stages, as people no longer look to stay in one job throughout their careers.”
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Look Inside Today’s Worker-Employer Relationship
According to a newly-released report by RiseSmart, there is an ‘employee relationship economy’ on the rise being driven by technology, a changing workforce and globalization. With it, HR management will increasingly need strategies to embrace a new era of ‘boomeranging’ employees.
Mr. Paul’s promotion with RiseSmart India is part of the expansion of RiseSmart’s outplacement business in the Indian market. Under Mr. Paul’s direction, the company has grown significantly and established RiseSmart as a leading provider of outplacement to some of India’s largest corporations. He has been with the company for over nine years and most recently served as director of operations.
Strengthening Leadership
“Taking care of employees is a global best practice,” said Dan Davenport, president and general manager of RiseSmart. “Bringing Kevin and Jasmine on board and promoting Joel strengthens our international leadership ranks significantly and enables RiseSmart to meet market demand as we grow worldwide.”
RiseSmart is the leading provider of contemporary career transition services for organizations in more than 40 industries and 80 countries. Founded in 2007, the company’s “beginning to beginning” approach combines dedicated career coaching and personal branding with patented technology and tools to support transitioning employees. The company partners with HR teams and provides onsite support, specialized training and secure reporting in a results-oriented approach.
Earlier this year, RiseSmart announced a new service called RiseSmart Express, a suite of career transition solutions and workshops tailored for small and medium businesses. The service helps companies provide soft landings for impacted employees by quickly connecting them to certified career coaches and resume writers, new job opportunities and a technology platform that facilitates networking and rapid re-employment.
An Expedited Process
RiseSmart Express is an outplacement solution that gives any small and medium organization the ability to purchase outplacement packages a la carte, directly via e-commerce. This expedited process allows business owners, administrators and department leaders to forgo lengthy sales processes and long-term contracts. Instead, customers have immediate access to the transition solutions and workshops that meet their specific needs, budget and timeline.
Late last year, the company 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.
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.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
