Kirk Williams
MIAMI,FL
Summary
Accomplished strategic leader and public company Chief People and Administrative Officer (CPAO) and Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) known for being a trusted business partner to CEOs, Board of Directors, and executive management teams. Proven expertise in leading global transformational initiatives, creating contemporary and world-class Human Resources functions, and in leading and motivating high performance teams within public companies such as Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN), James Hardie Building Products, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), American Express, Allianz Life Insurance, Honeywell, and Walmart.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief People & Administrative Officer
Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
06.2023 - Current
- Newly expanded role with previous CHRO duties for all of Human Resources and Communications, but with additional duties to include oversight for Legal (General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Legal function), Compliance, Ethics, Sustainability, ESG, and Health and Safety for the company. Accountable for working closely with the CEO and DFIN Board of Directors on key strategic initiatives including management oversight for a team of 50 professionals who support 1,850 employees in the 12 countries around the world.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Recruited by the CEO to be a member of the Executive team with a charter to build a global, world-class, strategic HR function and to drive cultural transformation as the company moved from a financial printer towards becoming a more cost efficient, digital services and software organization.
- Role expanded in 2020 to include additional responsibility and oversight for Corporate Communications which encompasses executive, internal, and external communications and public relations. Management oversight of 36 employees.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Developed an HR Transformation roadmap to align with CEO and Board’s strategic imperative to achieve 44% of the total company revenue be derived from software sales by 2024.
- Worked closely with the DFIN Board of Directors, Compensation Chairman and Compensation Committee to restructure the Executive Compensation plans (2020 and redesigned for 2024 plan year).
- Improved employee satisfaction by completely overhauling company compensation and benefit plans to align with market.
- Reduced employee turnover by 20% between 2019 – 2022.
- Generated approximately $2M in annual cost savings by insourcing and improving the talent acquisition function.
- DFIN received several awards: “Most Loved Workplace” by Newsweek Magazine and ranked #59 in 2022, #63 in 2023, and #60 in 2024 out of the top 100 workplaces, Certified as a “Most Loved Workplace” by the Best Practice Institute (2022) and cited as a “Best Place to Work” for the fifth year in a row by BuiltIn Chicago (2019-2024).
- Improved diversity representation at the manager + level with 51% of roles filled by women and people of color.
Chief Human Resources Officer
James Hardie Building Products
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Recruited by the CEO and a member of the executive team to drive cultural transformation across the organization and develop an HR roadmap to 2020 designed to rebuild a reactive and tactical HR function into a strategic partner that enables business growth. Managed a team of eight direct reports and more than 115 indirect reports in six countries.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Partnered with Board Chairman to redesign executive compensation programs to better align with long-term business interests, remain competitive and address shareholder concerns.
- Led diligence efforts for the largest international acquisition at Hardie: Fermacell ($560M, 800+ employees).
- Delivered $2M+ in annual cost savings and improved employee experience by insourcing talent acquisition.
Vice President, Human Resources
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Recruited by the BU President and CHRO to support global growth initiatives by developing and implementing the first ever Global Human Capital plan with a focus on talent, leadership development, succession, retention and culture fit. Accountable to bring HR best practices and to serve as the strategic business partner for two of ADM’s four business units – Global Oilseeds ($25B/10,000 employees) and Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients ($2.5B/3,100 employees). Managed a team of more than 60 employees in six countries.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Created the design framework for a five-year strategic roadmap that aligned HR’s key priorities with the CEO’s objectives - Talent, Culture, Careers, Rewards and Analytics.
- Partnered with the President to create a 4th business unit through the integration of multiple acquisitions including the largest at ADM (Wild Flavors - $3B, 2,700 employees).
Vice President, Global Employee & Labor Relations
American Express
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Recruited into the company with a charter to globalize, transform and restructure Employee Relations into a proactive, solutions-oriented department that maximized efficiency while improving service levels to both employees and leaders. Challenged to introduce best practices and replace disparate systems and processes while recognizing a changing workforce and cultural differences across 40 countries. Managed a team of 80 across 15 countries.
Vice President, Employee Relations & HR Compliance
American Express
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Recruited into the company with a charter to globalize, transform and restructure Employee Relations into a proactive, solutions-oriented department that maximized efficiency while improving service levels to both employees and leaders. Challenged to introduce best practices and replace disparate systems and processes while recognizing a changing workforce and cultural differences across 40 countries. Managed a team of 80 across 15 countries.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Allianz Life Insurance Company
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Recruited into the executive management team to partner and serve as a trusted adviser to the CEO in a company turnaround. Accountable for devising plans to create a performance based culture and execute on HR strategies geared to reversing declining revenues and profits and lowering significant turnover. Led a team of six direct reports and 50 indirect reports for 2,100 employees.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Recognized as Best Place to Work (#8) by St. Paul Business Journal and Top 100 Workplaces (#5) by Minneapolis Star Tribune.
- Achieved a financial turnaround from a loss to a profit in 2008 to 2009 by fostering a performance and competency-based culture, which entails devising employee development programs, redesigning company compensation programs, increasing accountability and building greater transparency into productivity and performance.
- Worked with the CEO to drive the adoption of “Employee Development” as a company-wide priority and facilitated improved leadership results through Leadership Advantage, a development program for high-potential leaders.
Vice President, Global Labor & Employee Relations
Honeywell International
01.2005 - 01.2008
Various Roles in Labor Relations and Human Resources Strategy
Walmart Inc.
01.2000 - 01.2005
Education
Juris Doctor -
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Kent State University
Skills
- Trusted advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors
- CEO Succession
- Cultural Transformation
- Global Strategy Creation
- Executive Compensation and Benefit Plan Design
- Talent Management and Succession Planning
- Executive Development
- Corporate Communications (executive and internal communications, PR)
- Global M/A, Integrations, Due Diligence
- Restructuring
- Labor Relations
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
- ESG and Sustainability
Affiliations
- Member, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
- Member, Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors
Certification
- CEO Led Executive Development Program, Harvard Business School – Boston, MA, 2015
- HR Strategy: Creating Competitive Advantage Through People, Cornell University – Ithaca, NY, 2010
- Change Management, Allianz Management Institute - Munich, Germany, 2009
- Six Sigma, Green Belt Certified, Honeywell, 2007
Timeline
Chief People & Administrative Officer
Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
06.2023 - Current
Chief Human Resources Officer
Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
01.2018 - 01.2023
Chief Human Resources Officer
James Hardie Building Products
01.2017 - 01.2018
Vice President, Human Resources
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
01.2014 - 01.2016
Vice President, Global Employee & Labor Relations
American Express
01.2013 - 01.2014
Vice President, Employee Relations & HR Compliance
American Express
01.2010 - 01.2013
Chief Human Resources Officer
Allianz Life Insurance Company
01.2008 - 01.2010
Vice President, Global Labor & Employee Relations
Honeywell International
01.2005 - 01.2008
Various Roles in Labor Relations and Human Resources Strategy
Walmart Inc.
01.2000 - 01.2005
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Kent State University
Juris Doctor -
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Awarded “Most Loved Workplace” by Newsweek Magazine and ranked #59 out of the top 100 workplaces in the United States in 2022, #63 in 2023, and #60 in 2024. (DFIN), Certified as a “Most Loved Workplace” by the Best Practice Institute (DFIN, 2022, 2023, 2024), Named a “Best Place to Work” for the fifth year in a row by BuiltIn Chicago (DFIN, 2020 - 2024), “Best Place to Work” (#8) by St. Paul Business Journal (Allianz Life Insurance, 2010), Top 100 Workplaces (#5) by Minneapolis Star Tribune (Allianz Life Insurance, 2010)