Gerald Edelman appoints first ever chief people officer

Gerald Edelman has appointed its first ever chief people officer to help lead the firm’s new 10-year vision. Olivia Parrish will work closely with CEO Carl Lundberg as part of the senior leadership team to “align people and culture with its growth journey”.

Parrish brings over two decades of HR and leadership experience across professional services, accountancy, and large-scale organisations.

She has previously held senior roles at accountancy firms Haines Watts and Cooper Parry, and has a “proven track record in shaping people strategies that drive cultural transformation and business growth”.  

Her background spans HR leadership, consulting, and organisational development, with experience in multi-sectors. She has also founded and run her own consulting business.

The firm said the newly created role highlights its “commitment to culture as the foundation for growth”, and will help it achieve its long-term goals.

Lundberg said: “We are delighted to welcome Olivia to the team. Her experience in cultural transformation and her passion for building strong, inclusive workplaces make her ideally placed to shape the future of our firm. 

“Our firm’s vision is so heavily reliant on having the right people in the right roles and developing and building on our high-performance culture that I believe this role is fundamental to our ability to achieve it. After all, it is our team’s expertise and guidance that keeps our clients coming back, so it is crucial that they are kept at the front and centre of our vision. Olivia will no doubt be crucial to ensuring that investing in our people is treated as a core business priority.” 

Parrish added: “I’m honoured to join Gerald Edelman at such a pivotal point in its journey. The creation of the chief people officer role demonstrates a real commitment to investing in our people and culture. My focus will be on creating an environment where our teams can thrive, innovate, and grow. 

“As part of this I will be looking to continue efforts to embed a culture that fosters collaboration, innovation, and wellbeing, whilst also empowering employees at all levels and fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship that will allow for career development, leadership opportunities and ultimately boost business performance.”