Whether you're hiring a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Chief People Officer (CPO), regional HR leader, or another senior HR executive, our search process is designed to identify and develop exceptional talent. We help you build HR leadership that unleashes workforce potential, strengthens executive teams, reduces turnover, and drives the performance and engagement needed to achieve your business goals–and your competitive edge.
We advised the CHRO on the future structure of the HR team, which led to the rescoping of four direct reports. We assessed internal candidates for those roles, and in parallel, carried out a benchmarking exercise against external candidates with the experience, capabilities, and personal attributes that aligned with the new roles and the values of the bank.
Our expert consultants carried out the leadership assessments and benchmarking exercise with discretion, ensuring key milestones were met along the way. Two of the positions were filled with internal candidates, while the other two were external appointments. All four roles were delivered within six months.
Our team launched an external search that looked beyond the healthcare sector to identify leaders with the caliber, track record, and strategic acumen required. The brief demanded someone able to challenge the CEO’s thinking, reshape the leadership team, and refocus the organization. Through this process, we identified a sitting CHRO who had successfully led a major transformation in her previous role, including large-scale upskilling and reskilling initiatives.
Since joining, the new CHRO has been instrumental in building a more effective leadership team—bringing in fresh talent while partnering with established executives. Together, they are shaping a shared vision for the organization’s future and collaborating closely to turn that vision into reality.
Our consultants worked with the new CHRO to ensure they landed well in the role, helping them to navigate their first months with confidence and understand what best-in-class HR looked like. While partnering with our team, the CHRO identified that talent was the most urgent priority, leading to an external search for a Chief Learning Officer capable of reshaping capabilities throughout the organization.
The search surfaced such a high-caliber candidates that the CHRO appointed two new leaders: a Chief Learning Officer and a new talent management role. Alongside this, we assessed six internal candidates, conducted an external talent benchmark, and conducted two further searches for HR Business Partners, enabling the CHRO to build the team they—and the business—needed for the future.
Drawing on decades of experience, our HR executive search process uncovers leaders capable of turning people strategy into measurable business results.
We evaluate candidates through the lens of your specific organizational challenges—whether that's navigating post-merger culture integration, implementing new workforce technologies, or reimagining talent acquisition in your industry.
Step 1: Strategic discovery
We thoroughly analyze your organization's unique culture, challenges, and objectives to create an ideal leadership profile tailored to your specific needs.
Step 2: Targeted exploration
Using our extensive network, we identify and engage with high-caliber candidates whose expertise aligns with your strategic priorities.
Step 3: Comprehensive evaluation
Candidates undergo our rigorous assessment process, measuring their capabilities against the critical success factors that matter most to your organization.
Step 4: Collaborative selection
We facilitate an informed decision-making process, presenting you with exceptional candidates who demonstrate the right combination of expertise, leadership, and cultural fit.
Step 5: Successful integration
Our partnership continues beyond selection, supporting a smooth transition and laying the groundwork for your new HR leader's lasting success.
By focusing on your organization's distinct challenges—whether navigating cultural transformation, implementing innovative people technologies, or reimagining talent strategies—we connect you with HR leaders capable of driving meaningful change in today's dynamic business environment.
While each CHRO executive search is unique, our process typically takes 14-25 weeks from initiation to offer acceptance. Our structured approach allows for thorough assessment while maintaining momentum. We understand the importance of finding the right CHRO efficiently, as prolonged vacancies in this critical role can impact strategic initiatives.
We recruit for the full spectrum of senior HR leadership roles, including Chief Human Resources Officers, Chief People Officers, HR Directors, VP of Talent Acquisition, Head of Organizational Development, VP of Total Rewards, Chief Learning Officers, HR technology leaders and other strategic HR executives. Our expertise spans public companies, private equity-backed firms, and private organizations across all sectors and growth stages.
Our advisors have extensive experience working with boards and C-suite executives at major global organizations across industries. We don't just fill positions—we help you define what CHRO leadership should look like for your specific strategic needs, then find leaders who can deliver transformative results. We serve as strategic advisors throughout the entire process—from role definition through successful integration of your new HR leader.
Successful HR leadership placements require alignment of people strategy expertise, business acumen, cultural leadership capabilities, and strong CEO partnership. We implement a comprehensive assessment approach that includes in-depth competency-based interviews, psychometric evaluations, reference checking, and situational analysis. Our process identifies candidates who not only possess strong HR expertise but also demonstrate the strategic thinking, change management abilities, and leadership qualities needed to collaborate effectively with the CEO in transforming organizations in today's complex business environment.
We offer unprecedented access to top talent in the market through our extensive networks of high-performing HR executives across industries and geographies. Our sourcing strategy leverages established relationships with proven HR leaders and proprietary research methodologies. We identify candidates who may not be actively seeking new opportunities but whose expertise in talent management, organizational design, and cultural transformation align perfectly with your organizational needs.
We know that finding the right HR leader is just the beginning. Our strategic HR recruitment services can include comprehensive onboarding support to ensure your new HR leader can make an impact quickly. We facilitate key relationship building, help align expectations, and provide ongoing coaching during the critical first months to maximize the chances of long-term success.
Our HR leadership recruitment capabilities extend globally. As a leading global leadership advisory firm, we maintain deep networks of HR leadership talent across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and emerging markets, allowing us to recruit HR leaders wherever your organization operates.
RRA's specialized HR leadership consultants bring decades of collective experience placing top CHROs across industries. Our consultants understand the evolving role of modern HR leaders who must balance strategic workforce planning with culture development, digital HR transformation, and employee experience enhancement. Our deep understanding of the CHRO function enables us to identify candidates with the precise blend of people expertise and business leadership qualities your organization needs.