Executive Moves: January Sees Key HR Leadership Shifts at Chipotle, Bridgestone and Beyond

This analysis is based on original reporting from HR Dive. For daily updates on workforce and leadership news, subscribe to the free HR Dive newsletter.

The first month of 2024 has proven to be a period of notable transition for top human resources executives, with several major corporations announcing promotions and strategic appointments. These moves signal a continued trend of broadening HR leadership responsibilities and a focus on internal talent development.

In a significant consolidation of leadership, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced on January 12 that Chief Human Resources Officer Ilene Eskenazi will now also oversee the legal department as Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer. Eskenazi, who joined the fast-casual chain in 2023, brings a unique blend of legal and HR expertise from her prior joint roles at Petco, Boardriders, and Red Bull North America, as well as her background as a corporate attorney at Skadden Arps. This expanded role underscores the growing intersection of people strategy and corporate governance.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone Americas welcomed back a familiar face. Michele Herlein has been appointed Chief People Officer, leading HR for the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions. Herlein previously served as Bridgestone's Vice President for Talent, Organization and Culture before departing for leadership roles at Barge Design Solutions and founding her own consultancy, CultureMax. Her return points to the value companies place on leaders with deep institutional knowledge.

Other key January appointments include:

• Darryl Wright-Greene was named CHRO of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, effective February 2. He joins from St. Petersburg College, bringing experience from Dallas College and Goodwill Industries of Houston.
• IT infrastructure specialist Kyndryl named Mark Paulek as its next CHRO, effective April 1. Currently the company's SVP of HR, Paulek's promotion from within highlights Kyndryl's commitment to succession planning.
• The WWEX Group (parent of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, and others) promoted Shelly Patman to CHRO. A veteran of the group since 2017, Patman's ascent reflects a reward for long-term contribution and internal talent growth.

Industry Perspective: "January is traditionally a time for strategic realignments," notes David Chen, a leadership consultant at Mercer. "We're seeing HR's seat at the table solidify, with leaders like Eskenazi taking on broader operational mandates. It's less about administrative functions and more about integrated business leadership."

Reader Reactions:
Linda Rodriguez, HR Director at a tech startup: "Seeing internal promotions like at Kyndryl is encouraging. It shows companies are investing in their HR pipelines, not just chasing external stars."
Marcus Thorne, former corporate recruiter (sharper tone): "Let's be real. Most of these 'strategic moves' are just musical chairs for the same cadre of overpaid executives. Does shuffling titles at the top actually improve workplace culture or equity for the average employee? I'm skeptical."
Priya Mehta, business school professor: "The Chipotle case is particularly instructive. Combining legal and HR under one leader could streamline compliance and ethics initiatives, but it also risks diluting focus on pure people strategy. The execution will be key to watch."