Rachel Kay Named Hearst SVP/Chief People Officer

Hearst today appointed Rachel Kay senior vice president and chief people officer, effective immediately.

In her new role, Kay will be Hearst’s most senior human resources executive, leading companywide strategy, programs and human capital management support, while maintaining the company’s tradition of local oversight of the majority of human resource decision making.

Hearst President-CEO Steven R. Swartz said: “Since joining us in 2019, Rachel has distinguished herself thanks to her judgment, strategic thinking and innovation. She will be a great partner to me, our new Chief Operating Officer Jordan Wertlieb and all of our group heads and senior human resource executives across the company in forging the future of our workforce and our workplace.”

“The role of the chief people officer could not be more important today, where the focus on attracting and retaining talent and providing an inclusive workplace is a major priority,” Wertlieb said. “I look forward to working with Rachel in my new role as we continue to advance Hearst’s special culture.”

For the past four years, Kay was Hearst’s vice president of talent. In this role, she has developed and led strategic initiatives related to recruiting, diversity and inclusion, compensation and talent planning across all of the company’s businesses.

Prior to Hearst, Kay spent 15 years at McKinsey & Co., the international management consulting firm. She started at McKinsey as a consultant and then transitioned to roles responsible for managing and operating the firm.

She holds a law degree from Columbia Law School and an undergraduate degree in history from Harvard University.

Swartz added, “I want to give particular thanks to our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Eve Burton for all she has done to step in and help build up our human capital management and corporate human resources capabilities, and for helping craft this new chief people officer role at our company.”

“Rachel’s skill set as an executive who is adept at recognizing the hiring and workplace needs for a growing corporation like ours makes her the perfect choice as Hearst’s first CPO,” said Mark Aldam, Hearst executive vice president and chief operating officer, who recruited Kay to Hearst.

Kay is a graduate of Hearst’s executive development program, Hearst Management Institute.