Gerald Edelman appoints first chief people officer

London-based accountancy firm Gerald Edelman has appointed Olivia Parrish as its first chief people officer, supporting the firm’s new ten-year vision and long-term growth strategy.

Olivia, who brings more than twenty years’ HR and leadership experience, joins from senior roles at Haines Watts and Cooper Parry, alongside running her own consultancy. 

She has a strong track record in delivering people strategies that drive cultural transformation and support organisational expansion.

In her new role, Olivia will work closely with chief executive Carl Lundberg as part of the senior leadership team, aligning people, culture and organisational development with the firm’s growth ambitions. 

She said: “I’m honoured to join Gerald Edelman at such a pivotal point in its journey. 

“The creation of the chief people officer role demonstrates a real commitment to investing in our people and culture. 

“My focus will be on creating an environment where our teams can thrive, innovate, and grow. 

“As part of this I will be looking to continue efforts to embed a culture that fosters collaboration, innovation and wellbeing, whilst also empowering employees at all levels and fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship that will allow for career development, leadership opportunities and ultimately boost business performance.” 

Olivia’s appointment reflects Gerald Edelman’s commitment to ensuring its culture remains central as the business continues to scale.

Carl Lundberg, chief executive of Gerald Edelman, added: “We are delighted to welcome Olivia to the team. 

“Her experience in cultural transformation and her passion for building strong, inclusive workplaces make her ideally placed to shape the future of our firm. 

“Our firm’s vision is so heavily reliant on having the right people in the right roles and developing and building on our high-performance culture that I believe this role is fundamental to our ability to achieve it. 

“After all, it is our team’s expertise and guidance that keeps our clients coming back, so it is crucial that they are kept at the front and centre of our vision. 

“Olivia will no doubt be crucial to ensuring that investing in our people is treated as a core business priority.” 

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