Program

Integrating Talent Development into the Business Planning Management Process

One of the issues that I have long faced, and has long faced our profession, is HR “finding its seat at the business table” or “being a business partner”. In most instances, the ability of HR to have a seat at the table, or be a business partner, is completely dependent on the skills and capabilities of the HR leader for that business unit. If the leader has strong business skills, and can find a way to develop relationships with the operating teams and add value to the business, they have a place at the table. If not, HR is relegated to processing personnel transactions and hosting the annual company picnic.

Here at Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. we believe we have found a relatively simple way to integrate HR Strategy and operating strategy. While we have a long way to go to fully integrate ourselves into the business planning and management process, we have made some significant in-roads, and hope to build on these early successes. Our objective is to make the partnership between HR and the business a normal part of our operating rhythm and not dependent on the skills of individual professionals and executives.

Speaker

Brian Hults, Vice-President People & Organizational Development

Brian Hults currently leads Newell Rubbermaid’s Global Organization and People Development function, responsible for developing the company’s succession plans for the Board of Directors to directing major organizational change initiatives such as the company’s marketing, sales and operational transformation initiatives. Most recently, Brian is credited with implementing a sales and operations planning initiative that contributed to a $224 million reduction in inventory and a 33 percent increase in cash generation for the company during 2009.

Brian joined Newell Rubbermaid in 2005 as Group Vice President of Human Resources for the company’s Global Office Products segment. In partnership with the segment president, he led a turnaround of the business that helped achieve nine consecutive quarters of double-digit income growth.

Prior to joining Newell, Brian was responsible for the turnaround of corporate human resources, global staffing, labor relations and HR shared services at Novartis Pharmaceutical. Earlier in his career, Brian also worked with The Coca-Cola Company, Case Corporation and Frito-Lay, Inc.

He has a B.A. in general psychology from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. and Ph.D in industrial/organizational psychology from Michigan State University and a Master of Management from the Kellogg Scholl of Business at Northwestern University.

Don't Forget the Food Drive 

Remember to bring a canned good or two with you to the chapter meeting. Donations benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Help us meet our donations goal for the year!

Location, Directions and Parking

Newell Rubbermaid Corporate Headquarters
3 Glenlake Parkway
Atlanta, GA
The Auditorium, 1st Floor

Please park in the free parking deck

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