Jason Hanold is the CEO & Managing Partner of Hanold Associates, a retained boutique executive search firm specializing in Human Resources officer and board recruiting. Before launching Hanold Associates, Jason was a Partner with Russell Reynolds Associates where he was the Managing Director of the firm’s Global Human Resources Officer Practice and was a member of the Board of Directors and CEO Practices.
Prior to Russell Reynolds Associates, Jason led the Global Talent Acquisition for Whirlpool Corporation. Preceding Whirlpool, he was the Director of Recruiting with McKinsey & Company charged with direct-elect partner hiring and based in the firm-wide headquarters in New York. Prior to McKinsey & Company, he was the Americas Director of Global Leadership Recruiting at Deloitte. He started his career with State Farm Insurance companies in claims operations, progressing into broader human resources roles.
Neela Seenandan is the Co-Managing Partner of Hanold Associates. She’s focused on leading senior level professional services and human resources leadership assignments. She joined the firm from Nielsen where she was the Senior Vice President of Human Resources responsible for North America Consumer. She was responsible for driving the strategic talent agenda including recruiting, compensation, talent management and Diversity & Inclusion.
Before Nielsen, Neela had a progressive career within Aon Corporation. Upon joining in 2006, she served as the Vice President of Executive Talent Acquisition and Development where she focused on strategic senior level hires across Aon Consulting Worldwide and Aon Risk Services. In 2007, she was promoted to Vice President, Global Head of Human Resources for Aon Re Global. After the acquisition of Benfield in 2008, Neela ran the global human resources integration of the newly formed Aon Benfield. Neela was asked to lead the human resources integration of Aon and Hewitt Associates and become the Global Head of Human Resources for the integrated business, Aon Hewitt.
Editor: What does your company do?
Jason & Neela: Hanold Associates serves the leadership teams of some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive companies on the planet, and those who aspire to be. We are a retained executive search firm focused on recruiting distinctive Chief HR Officers for world-class clients including Patagonia, REI, Nike, Moderna Therapeutics, eBay, Electronic Arts, The UFC and Amazon among many others. www.Hanold-associates.com
Editor: Any upcoming product launches or initiatives you’d like to highlight to our audience?
Jason & Neela: Noted above.
Editor: What made you decide to be a sponsor at DisruptHR Chicago?
Jason & Neela: As a firm, we are always looking for great opportunities to support innovation, collaboration and thought leadership in HR. We are stewards of our human resource function. Disrupting and re-invigorating the human capital function is a critical need in the business world and we’re excited to play a part in enabling HR leaders to actualize their goal of bringing world-class HR to their organizations.
Editor: Why does Chicago need an event like DisruptHR?
Jason & Neela: All markets need an event like DisruptHR! Chicago, in particular, is home to many talented, dedicated and passionate HR professionals. Events like this are a great chance for those individuals to come together, exchange ideas and find innovative and creative solutions to problems, new and old.
