Helen Palmer is the Chief of People (CPO). In this role, Helen leads WRI's global HR function, oversees talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, compensation and benefits, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. She also helps manage our organisational effectiveness and change management processes.

Helen has worked in the field of HR for over 20 years, predominantly in the staffing and contingent workforce sector, holding a variety of HR and Operational Leadership roles.

Helen’s HR career started at Reed where she held a variety of business partnering roles as well as leadership roles as Talent Acquisition Manager and Head of Learning and Development. Helen joined Kelly Services in 2014 as the Head of Leadership and Talent Development for EMEA & APAC, before being seconded to Operations Director for the UK & Ireland leading their specialist growth strategy for over 2 years. In 2018 Helen was given the opportunity to relocate to Kelly’s World Head Quarters in Troy Michigan, where she held several HR posts including leadership positions in change management, leadership development & succession planning, people experience and organizational effectiveness. Helen returned to the UK in 2020 and was promoted to VP International HR, overseeing all of Kelly’s HR functions outside of the USA.

Helen holds a BA in History and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD). Helen’s passion in people development led her to becoming BPS level 1&2 certified in occupational profiling and assessments as well as a certified Korn Ferry assessor and coach.

Helen lives in Tunbridge Wells with her husband Darren and her daughter Grace. Helen enjoys reading and going to the theatre, but her true passion is swimming, especially outdoors which she does all year-round even if you have to break the ice to get into the lake.