Stay Informed on Corporate Sustainability

Author: Archie Villaflores

The HR landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations rethinking how to engage, retain, and develop talent in increasingly flexible and digital workplaces. This edition highlights strategies that balance operational performance with employee wellbeing, showcasing how people-focused initiatives are shaping the future of work. Looking back to last year, ‘SpunOut named HR Team of the Year at HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025’ demonstrates the impact of their Four Day Working Week strategy and remote-first policies. Their approach sets a benchmark for HR teams aiming to innovate and excel as attention turns to the 2026 awards cycle. Furthermore, ‘SD Worx outlines HR priorities to boost workforce strategy and employee experience’ examines how targeted programmes, data-driven insights, and digital tools are helping organisations optimise workforce strategy. The analysis emphasises the role of HR in shaping outcomes that benefit both employees and the business. On the international front, ‘Kyndryl names new HR leaders to advance global workforce strategy’ highlights leadership in navigating complex, cross-border workforce initiatives. The story underscores how thoughtful HR leadership drives alignment, performance, and long-term workforce resilience. These features reveal a sector where people-centred approaches are no longer optional. HR is central to sustaining growth, innovation, and an engaged, future-ready workforce.

Author: Jed Nykolle Harme

Early last year, SpunOut was named HR Team of the Year at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025 for its innovative approach to remote work and the Four Day Working Week, highlighting excellence in employee engagement and operational strategy as the sector looks toward 2026.

Author: GCM Grosvenor

GCM Grosvenor, a US-based global alternative asset manager, appoints Cara Fixler as Chief Human Resources Officer. Fixler brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience to oversee the firm’s global talent strategy, engagement, and organisational culture.

Author: Kyndryl

Kyndryl, a US-based IT services and consulting company, has announced multiple HR leadership changes, including a new Chief Human Resources Officer. The updates reflect strategic HR priorities, talent development, and organisational transformation across its global operations.

Author: Insurance Business

MetLife has launched its Group Life offering in Ireland, targeting employers and employees via brokers. The insurer’s 360Health services combine financial protection with wellbeing and digital healthcare, reflecting evolving HR priorities in employee benefits and workforce support.

Author: Business Plus

Chadwicks Group, a leading Irish builders’ merchanting company, has appointed Eimear O’Reilly as HR Director. She will drive people strategy, organisational development and employee experience, supporting the company’s transformation and long-term growth across Ireland.

Author: Irish Examiner

SD Worx identifies the key HR priorities shaping Irish workplaces in 2026. Country leader Eimear Byrne shares insights on AI adoption, employee experience, personalised training, internal mobility, and workforce adaptability, highlighting strategic and operational HR imperatives.

Author: Archie Villaflores

Organisational transformation remains at the heart of HR leadership as companies navigate a landscape defined by culture, skills, and strategic appointments. A standout moment from 2025, the ‘Department of Health Named Best Change Management Programme Winner at HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025’ highlights the continued importance of employee-led, values-driven change. The initiative sets a benchmark for transformational workplace culture as attention now turns to the 2026 awards cycle. Additionally, ‘IrishJobs highlights salary transparency and skills-first hiring as 2026 recruitment priorities’ reflects a strategic shift where talent attraction and capability assessment increasingly influence organisational success. These insights underscore the growing expectation for HR functions to integrate fairness, clarity, and operational efficiency into workforce planning. Meanwhile, ‘Data Analytics Ventures appoints Kurt Silvano to lead people and culture’ reinforces the emphasis on leadership roles that actively shape employee experience and embed values-driven practices across organisations. Strategic appointments such as this illustrate how experienced HR leadership translates policy into actionable, measurable outcomes. These stories emphasise a unifying theme: the convergence of culture, capability, and leadership as the defining vectors of HR strategy in 2026. Explore these features to understand the approaches shaping HR leadership and management in the year ahead.

Author: Jed Nykolle Harme

Early last year, the Department of Health was named Best Change Management Programme at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025 for its Culture Project – From Principals to Practice, setting a benchmark for employee-led, values-driven workplaces as the HR sector looks towards this 2026.

Author: HRTech Series

US-based HR consultancy OrgLogic introduces a governance-first approach to AI in human resources. Founder Annette Hooker highlights accountability, structured workflows, and human oversight as essential for ethical AI adoption in HR processes.