Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) announced the appointment of Renée Bell as chief people officer. She will lead the global People team to further align the firm’s people strategy to its business strategy and will help cultivate talent to further strengthen and deepen the organization’s inclusive culture. She is based in Chicago and will serve on the firm’s Senior Leadership Team.

“Renée returns to us with her deep background in human resources management and broad focus on developing talent,” says Constantine Alexandrakis, chief executive officer of Russell Reynolds Associates. “She is an accomplished leader who will help us further strengthen the diversity of our talent bench to fuel our continued growth, emphasizing how we develop and reward our people while attracting new talent. These are critical pillars for our firm’s continued success.”

Bell spent nearly a decade at RRA as the global head of learning and development and was instrumental in leading the firm’s professional development programs, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, apprenticeship, and more. Most recently, she was chief talent officer at Cornerstone Research, where she managed a global team responsible for talent and development.

“I am thrilled to rejoin RRA and be a part of the firm’s next chapter of growth and development under Constantine’s leadership,” Bell says. “Our organization’s success depends on the strength and energy of our people. I am committed to deepening our culture of inclusivity, innovation and purpose which generates a lot of pride in our colleagues but also energizes them to take the firm and their own careers to greater heights.”

Bell holds a B.A. with honors in economics and government from Harvard University and an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and an MPP from the university’s Harris School of Public Policy.