October saw moves from HR leaders in the food service, hospitality and retail sectors, among others.
The Vitamin Shoppe
Kate Vukelich has joined nutritional product supplier The Vitamin Shoppe as executive vice president and chief people officer, the company announced Oct. 21. She will oversee all aspects of HR strategy and operations in her new role.
Vukelich previously worked for Everlane as chief revenue and chief people officer, and before that, held a variety of senior leadership roles over the course of 12 years at Walmart.
Inspire Brands
Kelly McCulloch joined Inspire Brands — owner of Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Dunkin’ and more — as chief people officer Monday, moving over from her previous role as senior vice president of people at Walmart U.S. She will lead talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, total rewards and culture initiatives.
Inspire is not McCulloch’s first foray into the food industry; before Walmart, she was global chief people officer for Taco Bell, and before that, held various HR roles at Pizza Hut.
QinetiQ
Tracy Gee has joined defense and national security services supplier QinetiQ, Inc., as chief people officer, the company announced Tuesday. Gee was most recently CPO and head of the Center for Inclusive Governance at the National Association of Corporate Directors, and prior to that, held HR roles at Raytheon, Liberty Mutual and Fidelity Investments.
Buyers Edge Platform
Foodservice procurement and analytics company Buyers Edge Platform appointed Rohini Shankar as chief people officer, the company announced in early October. Her experience as a certified executive coach and role on Forbes HR Council, as well as her time in corporate leadership, will aid Buyers Edge in a “rapid expansion,” CEO John Davie noted.
Shankar brings more than two decades at GE, leading HR operations and strategy in the U.S., India and Hong Kong.
J. Crew Group
Gena Smith has joined J. Crew Group — which includes the J. Crew, J. Crew Factory and Madewell brands — as chief human resources officer, the organization announced Oct. 23. She will be based in New York, report to CEO Libby Wadel and handle all aspects of HR, from talent acquisition and engagement to organizational effectiveness.
Smith was previously CHRO at LVMH North America and, prior to that, global managing director at Karen Harvey Consulting Group.
Dimension Hospitality
Aimee Mangold has joined hotel management company Dimension Hospitality, according to an Oct. 24 press release. She will oversee more than 70 hotels across 16 states and set to work “aligning Dimension’s human capital strategies with business objectives while providing the best environment for our employees to work,” COO Joe Viglietta said.
Mangold was previously vice president of human resources for SROA Capital.
