Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership Responsibilities
Websites
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Leiann Kaytmaz

Smith Point,NY

Summary

Highly accomplished strategic HR leader with a proven history of driving organizational excellence through talent optimization and cultural alignment. Over 20 years of progressive experience, particularly within the dynamic news media and advertising industries. Championed a company culture to foster a people first mentality, integrity, high performance, and growth. Expertise spans employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, talent acquisition, and HR technology implementation. Consistently delivers results that positively impact profitability, employee satisfaction, and productivity. A highly accomplished HR leader with over 20 years of progressive experience, specializing in strategic vision and execution, organizational development, and change leadership. Expertise includes global business expansion, executive team collaboration, and stakeholder management. Consistently delivered results through strong HR strategy and policy development, effective risk mitigation, and a focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) to build high-performance cultures.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Newsweek
NY, NY
06.2016 - 07.2025
  • Developed and executed comprehensive global HR strategies for a global media publisher that significantly contributed to company growth, profitability, and brand reputation.
  • Led multi-regional workforce expansions across EMEA, India, and LATAM, ensuring seamless HR integration, legal compliance, and effective management, ensuring profitable growth year over year.
  • Strategically developed and optimized comprehensive compensation and benefits programs ensuring competitive offerings and compliance, directly supporting talent attraction and retention.
  • Built a high-performing and inclusive culture, championing diversity, equity, and journalistic integrity while directing initiatives that enhanced employee engagement and retention.
  • Spearheaded the successful implementations of HR technologies resulting in a 40% reduction in manual HR processes saving over $100,00 annually in administrative costs.
  • Managed the corporate personnel budget leading to a 10% reduction in annual spending while maintaining full human capital functionality.
  • Proactively managed and mitigated complex HR-related risks across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring full legal and regulatory and maintained a record of zero employee-initiated lawsuits throughout my 9-year tenure.
  • Built and maintained robust relationships with industry associations, regulatory agencies, and other external stakeholders, enhancing organizational reputation.
  • Oversaw U.S. corporate operations, including the insurance portfolio, lease administration and facilities management.

Vice President, HR

9.8 Group Inc.
NY, NY
03.2007 - 06.2016
  • Built and scaled the HR function for a newly formed multicultural advertising agency and its subsidiaries, including the HR due diligence for 3 successful acquisitions and integrating 150 new employees.
  • Spearheaded the post-acquisition HR integration for acquired entities, successfully aligning benefits for over 300 employees within the first 90 days.
  • Provided strategic and tactical HR leadership, aligning initiatives with business goals and serving as a crucial liaison with shared services groups.
  • Evaluated and strategically redesigned integrated benefit plans, optimizing offerings to support the agency's growth objectives and enhance the employee experience.
  • Trained department directors on HR policies, performance management, and legal compliance, and mitigated legal risk.
  • Directed all HR operations and ensured compliance with vendor relations, payroll, and ERISA regulations.

Staffing Manager

Corcoran Group Real Estate
NY, NY
01.2006 - 01.2007
  • Established and executed a centralized HR staffing process and systems across four business lines for a luxury real estate firm.
  • Managed the P&L and created reports to provide staffing metrics for strategic decision-making.
  • Developed and communicated clear staffing process flows to internal hiring managers, enhancing recruitment effectiveness.
  • Exceeded hiring goals by recruiting 55 new hires in less than 5 months.

HR Manager, Consultant

Barnes & Noble Inc. / Zagat Survey LLC
NY, NY
01.2005 - 01.2006
  • Managed full-cycle recruitment for corporate offices, securing key talent.
  • Effectively managed and resolved diverse employee relations issues.

Director of Recruiting

Edison Schools Inc.
NY, NY
01.2004 - 01.2005
  • Directed all exempt and non-exempt recruitment and selection for an educational management company, overseeing a workforce of over 7,000 employees in 22 states.
  • Prepared and managed the annual departmental budget.
  • Redesigned the national onboarding program, improving new hire integration and engagement.
  • Developed and managed comprehensive metrics reporting to track recruitment effectiveness.
  • Played a key role in the corporate diversity initiative. Authored the first ever corporate diversity statement establishing the foundational commitment to diversity.
  • Represented the company at various job fairs and national conferences, enhancing employer brand.
  • Educational Management Company

National Director of Recruiting

C2MEDIA
NY, NY
01.2000 - 01.2003
  • Streamlined recruiting operations for 11 offices in the U.S and Canada for a national media graphic firm.
  • Provided comprehensive interview training for management to improve hiring outcomes.
  • Conducted new hire orientations and exit interviews, gathering critical feedback for retention.
  • Contributed to strategic HR initiatives by participating in meetings on retention, training, morale, and performance management.
  • Supervised recruiting assistants and administrative staff.

Department Manager

CP Selection
NY, NY
01.1999 - 01.2000
  • Hired to develop and launch a new sales and marketing division for an executive search firm, building the practice through new business relationships and negotiated agreements.
  • Responsible for full life cycle recruiting, from client engagement to candidate placement.

Education

B.A. - Human Resources

Southern New Hampshire University

B.A. - English

Stony Brook University

Skills

Strategic Vision & Execution Executive Team Collaboration Organizational Development & Change Leadership Team Building & Mentoring Stakeholder Management Global Business Expertise

Leadership Responsibilities

  • Strategic Vision & Execution
  • Executive Team Collaboration
  • Organizational Development & Change Leadership
  • Team Building & Mentoring
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Global Business Expertise

Certification

  • Ranked in the top 10% of leaders companywide as measured by Zenger Folkman survey
  • Certified Predictive Index® Analyst
  • Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness - Executive Coaching Seminar
  • Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations - Strategic Diversity Recruiting

Timeline

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Newsweek
06.2016 - 07.2025

Vice President, HR

9.8 Group Inc.
03.2007 - 06.2016

Staffing Manager

Corcoran Group Real Estate
01.2006 - 01.2007

HR Manager, Consultant

Barnes & Noble Inc. / Zagat Survey LLC
01.2005 - 01.2006

Director of Recruiting

Edison Schools Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2005

National Director of Recruiting

C2MEDIA
01.2000 - 01.2003

Department Manager

CP Selection
01.1999 - 01.2000

B.A. - Human Resources

Southern New Hampshire University

B.A. - English

Stony Brook University

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Leiann Kaytmaz