The Koblentz Group Recruits CHRO for PRGX
June 17, 2019 – Anyone with ties to the human resources function knows how much it has evolved in recent years – and with it the role of the chief human resources officer. The biggest shift has been in the CHRO’s progression from fighting for a seat at the table to playing a key role on the executive team. According to executive recruiters who place some of the best talent in the field, a great CHRO can be among the most vital strategic human assets a company can have – closely partnering with the CEO and CFO.
Following a national search, The Koblentz Group has placed Lynn Howard as the new CHRO of NASDAQ-traded PRGX. Partner Jeff Neppl led the assignment.
“Lynn’s expertise in developing high-performing, engaged workforces is ideal for PRGX’s client-focused culture,” said Ron Stewart, president and chief executive officer. “Our team members are vital to enabling PRGX’s continued global growth, and I’m looking forward to Lynn’s leadership in ensuring each PRGX employee achieves their full potential.”
Ms. Howard has more than 25 years of human resources experience. Prior to joining the company, she served as CHRO for Ciox Health. Before that, she held executive leadership positions with ABILITY Network, Surgical Care Affiliates and MedAssets.
In her new role, she is responsible for the company’s people strategy, including talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, employee engagement and culture.
Based in Atlanta, PRGX is a global leader, operating in 30 countries, providing technology enabled recovery audit and spend analytic services with its source-to-pay business processes. Under its CEO, Ron Stewart, and board, the company is seizing market opportunity and is well positioned for accelerated growth.
“We are seeing considerable activity broadly in recruitment of CHRO roles,” said Mr. Neppl. “This search is indicative of other CHRO searches that we have conducted recently as clients seek to align leadership and their talent more closely with their paths to value.”
Why the Partnership with Chief Human Resource Officers Matters
Anyone with the ties to the human resources function knows how much it has evolved in recent years – and with it the role of the chief human resources officer. The biggest shift seen is in how the CHRO has progressed from fighting for a seat at the table to playing a key role on the executive team. According to executive recruiters who ply their trade placing some of the best ones in the field, a great CHRO can be one of the most vital strategic human assets a company can have – closely partnering with the CEO and CFO.
In addition, following a record-breaking year of recruiting top HR leadership into some of the best well-known brands across industry, Hanold Associates has just been tapped by the National Football League to lead its search for a new chief human resources officer (CHRO). Jason Hanold, CEO and managing partner of the Chicago-based recruiting outfit that bears his name, is leading the assignment which kicked off just days before Super Bowl LIII. Here’s some further reading from Hunt Scanlon Media.
“In that respect, in an era of asymmetrical and transformative events, clients, beyond the necessary functional experience and competences, are seeking strategic human resource leadership that is flexible and agile, and who appreciate operational cadence and think about the function from an outside-in perspective,” said Mr. Neppl.
Candidates for today’s CHRO positions must bring more to the table than the attributes of yesteryear. “Our forward minded clients seek individuals who are courageous about embracing change and who, via their actions, encourage their companies to act faster,” Mr. Neppl said. “CHROs that are geared to strategic diligence and who achieve tangible outcomes are the only ones on our radar.”
Proven Search Consultants
The Koblentz Group specializes in recruiting C-level leaders and board directors. The firm was founded by Joel Koblentz in 2002. His practice, as developed over the last 30 years, can best be described as “at the value creation level” for publicly traded companies and private equity concerns. He advises corporate boards on succession and recruitment of new board members, the recruitment of CEOs and executive leadership. Mr. Koblentz’s typical clients are boards of directors, chief executives or controlling shareholders. Previously, he was a senior partner at Egon Zehnder.
Mr. Neppl focuses on C-level, officer and board of director searches for public and private clients in operations, technology, sales, finance, marketing and business development. He has experience operating in very large multinational companies as well as C-level experience in venture capital and private equity backed deals. Mr. Neppl began working with the search firm when he was leading A.I. Partners, an Atlanta-based recruiting organization. A.I. and The Koblentz Group worked together under a strategic partnership arrangement. After a period of time in that structure, they formally merged under The Koblentz Group brand.
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
