August was a month for both promotions and fresh talent as a variety of companies changed up their HR leaders.
Krispy Kreme
Lori Suess has been promoted to chief people officer of Krispy Kreme, the company announced Aug. 3. Suess, who joined the company in 2020, was earlier this year named head of people and culture. She will oversee Krispy Kreme’s global people, culture, talent development and employee engagement efforts.
Avenzo Therapeutics
Connie Wedel has been named CHRO of Avenzo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that develops oncology therapies. Wedel most recently served as CPO at Cytek Biosciences, a cell analysis solutions company, where she focused on global HR, workforce strategy, total rewards, organizational design and culture. She said she looks forward to building on the company’s foundation and investments in its people during a time of growth for Avenzo.
Macmillan Learning
Supplier of digital tools and textbooks Macmillan Learning has named Kristin Peikert its new CPO. The role is a promotion for Peikert, who has taken on an increasing role in HR leadership since joining the company 11 years ago. She has also “played a central role” in the company’s adoption of artificial intelligence, the company said, and recently received a People + AI Pioneer Award from Lattice.
Giant
The Giant Co., a regional grocery chain with stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, has named Jim Saccary its VP of HR, according to a Tuesday announcement. Saccary has been with the company more than 30 years, holding roles like training specialist, HR business partner, director of management development and training and CHRO. He will now be responsible for all HR functions at the company, including team member relations, learning and development, recruitment, total rewards, and talent and culture.
Nurix Therapeutics
Wes Burwell has joined Nurix Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted protein degradation medicines for patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases, as CHRO, Nurix announced Aug. 20. Burwell has more than 20 years of HR experience and was most recently VP of HR for Bolt Biotherapeutics. He has joined Nurix at “an exciting inflection point,” he said. CEO Arthur Sands said Burwell’s “outstanding record of scaling organizations through rapid growth” will help the company through its next phase.
Deep Fission
Deep Fission, a nuclear energy company that develops small modular pressurized water reactors and installs them one mile underground, named ShawnTrell Scales CPO on Tuesday. Scales has worked in HR across the energy, manufacturing and agricultural technology sectors, and most recently served as CHRO at Farmer’s Business Network. She will lead people strategy at Deep Fission as the company prepares to advance to commercial deployment.
