EDITORIAL www.hrdmag.com.sg ISSUE 2.03 EDITORIAL
SALES & MARKETING
Editor Iain Hopkins
Marketing & Communications Manager Lisa Narroway
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PERFECT CANDIDATES FOR THE TOP JOB? DO HR professionals make good CEOs? Research from the likes of Dave Ulrich indicates that CHROs can move to the top position. In fact, of all the executive roles, the CHRO shares most of the traits of the CEO. There are of course quite a few global precedents. Lisa M. Weber was president of MetLife (2004-2010), Anne Mulcahy was CEO of Xerox (2001–2009), and more recently Mary Barra became CEO of GM. All three previously held VP roles in HR. Barra’s story is interesting. Having spent most of her adult life working at GM, starting with an engineering internship at a manufacturing plant, she eventually became VP of global HR from 2009 to 2011 and was named CEO in January 2014. When asked about what she learned from her time in HR, Barra told the LA Times: “I try to create an environment where people feel they [can] voice their concerns and that we can get the best ideas on the table and then make the right decision. But at the end of the
CHROs can move to the top position, and in fact of all the executive roles, the CHRO shares most of the traits of the CEO day, when the decision has to be made, if we don’t have complete unanimity, I have no qualms about making it.” A quick glance at some of the skill requirements for a successful CEO shows they must have the ability to trust, the ability to listen, the ability to sense, the ability to observe, and the ability to collaborate. The modern-day HR professional thinks and operates this way. CEOs must also of course have business nous, which today more and more HR professionals have. Today’s HR professional is collaborative, strategic and understands not only the world of HR but the business needs of their organisation. They can be instrumental in helping to create the link between business strategy and talent development. They are in the somewhat unique position of operating across all business functions. And with the majority of financial resources spent on talent, who better to lead an organisation than someone who has led the HR organisation?
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Iain Hopkins, editor
www.hrdmag.com.sg
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