Key Takeaways:
– Seattle-based Accolade appoints Kelsi McDonald Harris as chief people officer and senior VP.
– McDonald Harris replaced Jennifer Hanson, who transitioned to an advisory role.
– McDonald Harris set to manage employee experience for over 2,400 employees.
– Other notable personnel changes occurred across several companies in the Pacific tech industry.
Accolade’s Leadership Transition
Renowned healthcare software magnate Accolade announced the recruitment of Kelsi McDonald Harris for the role of chief people officer and senior vice president. The Seattle-based giant made the strategic move amidst a number of key personnel changes across the Pacific Northwest tech industry.
Career Background of McDonald Harris
McDonald Harris adds value to the Accolade executive team, leveraging her rich experience derived from her tenure with the company that began in 2017. She worked as vice president of strategy and planning, and her impressive journey started at retail giant Target.
Newly Defined Responsibilities
In her new role, McDonald Harris will shoulder the responsibility of managing the employee experience, which involves the supervision of more than 2,400 employees. This includes the core team based in Seattle which comprises 120 of the workforce. She steps into the shoes of Jennifer Hanson who has transitioned into an advisory role within the establishment.
The Accolade Story
Accolade made its foray into the healthcare technology domain back in 2007. The company aims at providing exemplary healthcare delivery, navigation, and advocacy services. Their unique strategy involves partnering with employers. The corporate giant took a massive leap forward by going public in 2020. However, there has been a 20% dip in its stock over the past year. The company also faced a round of layoffs a year ago.
Other Major Personnel Movements in Pacific Northwest Tech Industry
This new development does not stand in isolation. The Pacific Northwest tech industry has witnessed several noteworthy transitions. For instance, Leo Olebe who was the global head of gaming at YouTube was recruited by Microsoft as the vice president for Xbox’s global partnerships. Prior to this, Olebe played a key role as a global director at Facebook, actively contributing to the company’s games partnerships team.
Pet insurance company Trupanion, another Seattle-based organization, named Steve Ireland as the senior vice president of conversion marketing. Before joining Trupanion, Ireland served as vice president at BluePearl and Pet Partners.
Similarly, Pacvue, an e-commerce startup absorbed Abi Harmon as the executive vice president. Harmon, now based in Seattle, brought with her a wealth of leadership experience as the former CEO of Perpetua and from retail roles at Amazon and Target.
In another development, Rad Power Bikes, a Seattle-based e-bike company, promoted Kelsey Wolf as the director of public relations just a year after she joined the company, having previously worked with Zillow Group.
Lastly, Sheilin Herrick, a seasoned marketing professional of Seattle who held significant leadership roles at SHL and Karat, joined Amazon as a senior partner marketing manager for Amazon Shipping.
These personnel changes signal a vibrant dynamic in the Pacific Northwest tech industry, marking the start of a significant new chapter for each of these companies.
