While finance leaders are a staple of most company boardrooms, HR leaders are a much rarer sight. Analysis from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that only 2% of FTSE 350 companies have a chief people officer (CPO) or HR director on the board, compared with 99% that have a boardroom seat for a chief financial officer or finance director.
An absence of HR expertise means that boards often become preoccupied with the financials, lack emotional intelligence and overlook people and DEI issues, according to the CIPD report. But despite this imbalance, there is growing awareness of the value that people leaders can bring to the boardroom.
Here, three people chiefs explain how HR leaders can best position themselves for boardroom appointments – and how to ensure that their voice is heard once they've earned a seat at the table.