SHRM names Hank Jackson president and CEO

Interim president for one year, helped grow membership

Henry Jackson has been named president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Since becoming interim president and CEO in July 2010, Jackson has focused the 255,000-member society on a successful pathway to long-term growth, including strengthening membership, developing new products and services, building global capabilities and engaging senior human resources leaders and their organizations, said the organization.

Jackson, a seasoned executive who has overseen finance, technology and HR departments, is the sixth CEO in SHRM’s 63-year history. The previous CEO, Laurence O’Neil, resigned last year.

“We were looking for the ideal candidate — a person with the right vision, the right skills and the expertise to bring this organization through the next phase of its growth, and that person is Hank Jackson,” said Jose Berrios, board chair.

Jackson has been with SHRM for more than five years and, in a previous role as chief global finance and business affairs officer, led SHRM’s critical business functions, including finance and accounting, information technology, organizational programs, publishing and e-media, and global marketing.

“I am honoured and excited about the opportunity to advance SHRM’s mission,” Jackson said. “We must always strive to know what's next and I look forward to leading this charge.”

During a challenging economic time in the last year, the society has grown membership and it attracted more than 18,000 people to its annual conference held this week in Las Vegas.

Before he joined SHRM, Jackson served as senior vice-president, chief financial officer and treasurer at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he has held senior positions at the firms Main Hurdman and KMPG and with the Southern Association of College and University Officers.

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