Chief People Officer

The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a senior executive responsible for leading the people function across an organisation. As a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive board, the CPO plays a pivotal role in aligning people strategy with business objectives, helping drive both performance and culture.

In today’s business landscape, the CPO leads the charge on organisational transformation, talent development, DEI, and employee experience. They are often the face of change and are tasked with making the company a more agile, inclusive, and engaging place to work.

Role overview

CPOs lead and evolve the full people agenda across the business, overseeing the development and implementation of HR strategy at the highest level. Their remit often includes:

  • Talent acquisition and development across all levels

  • Organisational design and cultural transformation

  • Leading on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy

  • Shaping leadership development and succession planning

  • Defining total reward, compensation and benefits

  • Building and reinforcing employee engagement initiatives

  • Partnering with the board to embed people-first strategy in all decision making

A forward-thinking CPO brings a data-driven approach, blending insight with empathy to deliver meaningful impact across all areas of the employee lifecycle.

Typical role requirements

CPOs typically have a strong background in HR leadership, having held senior positions such as CHRO, Global HR Director or VP of People. They bring:

  • Proven experience leading HR strategy at a group or enterprise level

  • The ability to navigate complex global organisations

  • Strong knowledge of employment law, culture transformation, and strategic workforce planning

  • Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills

  • Executive-level leadership presence, with experience advising boards

  • A values-led approach with a focus on inclusion and high performance

A degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field is often preferred, with CIPD qualifications or equivalent global certifications also highly desirable.

Recruit Your Next Chief People Officer with Elliott Scott

At Elliott Scott, we help businesses secure exceptional Chief People Officers who can transform people strategy and build sustainable organisational growth. Our global network and executive search expertise mean we can deliver people leaders who will elevate culture, drive innovation, and future-proof your workforce.

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FAQs

While both roles are executive-level and oversee the HR function, the Chief People Officer title often implies a more progressive, culture-focused approach. A CPO is typically responsible for driving people-first strategies, innovation in employee experience, and company culture, whereas a CHRO may have a more traditional focus on compliance, workforce planning, and organisational structure.

CPOs are responsible for overseeing talent strategy, employee engagement, leadership development, DEI initiatives, and organisational culture. They work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to ensure that people and business goals are aligned.

Most CPOs have held senior HR roles such as Global HR Director, HR VP, or CHRO. They typically have broad HR experience, strong leadership and communication skills, and a strategic mindset. Many hold advanced qualifications such as CIPD Level 7 or global HR certifications.