Laurence O'Neil named new president and CEO

HR Magazine, Sept, 2008

In a major advance of its strategic initiatives, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on Aug. 11 announced the selection of Laurence (Lon) G. O'Neil as president and chief executive officer.

O'Neil, who had been senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Kaiser Permanente, will take the helm on Oct. 1 of the world's largest human resource management association representing more than 245,000 professionals in 130 countries.

SHRM's Board of Directors unanimously chose O'Neil after a rigorous, six-month national search that included a pool of more than 400 potential candidates. He has held executive-level HR and corporate positions at profit and not-for-profit organizations, both in the United States and overseas.

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"Lon's impressive record of achievement and innovation will be an asset to SHRM's strategic growth and ongoing service to our members," said Janet N. Parker, SPHR, chair of the SHRM Board of Directors and executive vice president for human resources at Regions Financial Corp in Birmingham, Ala. "We welcome his leadership as the Society and the profession continue to expand their influence."

"I am honored to be joining this esteemed global organization at an exciting time of growth for the human resources profession," said O'Neil. "I've seen first hand how HR professionals can make the critical difference in an organization's ability to compete and succeed. I am dedicated to strengthening the Society's commitment to the profession and to the people who fulfill this essential mission around the world every day."

From 2002 to 2007, O'Neil served as senior vice president and chief HR officer at Kaiser Permanente, a $40 billion not-for-profit health organization with 158,000 employees. In this role, he developed and led a corporate-wide transformation of the HR structure and services, creating business-focused HR centers of excellence. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, he was a managing partner during 2000-02 at Heidrick & Struggles, one of the world's leading providers of executive search and leadership consulting services.

O'Neil also held positions with Bank of America: executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Global Corporate & Investment Banking from 1993 to 2000 and various domestic and international assignments from 1983-92.

Until Oct. 1, SHRM Chief Operating Officer China Gorman will continue to serve as the acting president and CEO.

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