SHRM Announces New Leadership Roles Ahead of its 75th Anniversary Year

​ALEXANDRIA, Va. — SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) announced several changes and promotions within its leadership structure, naming Mike Aitken chief membership officer, Tina Beaty senior vice president and acting chief marketing and experience officer, and Emily M. Dickens head of public affairs in addition to her roles as chief of staff and corporate secretary.

SHRM also announced that Chief Knowledge Officer Alex Alonso, SHRM-SCP, will serve as executive sponsor for the recently acquired CEO Academy, Christopher Lopez will serve as director of CEO Academy, and Chief Global Development Officer Nick Schacht and his team will lead on day-to-day business for the recently acquired Linkage Inc.

Aitken has vast expertise in workplace and workforce issues, intimately understanding the needs of SHRM’s individual members and its business. He joined SHRM in August 2003 as director of government relations before being promoted to vice president of government affairs in 2011 and senior vice president of membership in November 2018. As senior vice president of membership, he grew the affiliate structure, enhancing the role of field services directors, launching the Dual Membership Release program, expanding affinity partnerships, creating new lines of revenue and overseeing the growth of membership across all categories.

In her new role, Beaty will join SHRM’s executive team, overseeing the portfolio of marketing, brand management and content strategy, event strategy and experience, the SHRM Speakers Bureau, website strategy, social media, and creative services. She joined SHRM in 2018 as vice president of communications and in 2020 was promoted to vice president of marketing. In her last role, Beaty was instrumental in redefining SHRM’s brand and contributed significantly to the organization’s shift toward audience-centric marketing and go-to-market transformation.

Further cementing its thought leadership and global communication footprint, SHRM also announced the creation of a new Public Affairs Department led by Dickens. Dickens has been part of SHRM’s executive team since 2017. In her new role, she will oversee media affairs, internal communications, multimedia production and executive communications, in addition to SHRM’s Government Affairs team.

"We are excited to welcome these leaders into their important new roles. Their cumulative experience makes them great ambassadors of SHRM's mission to create better workplaces for a better world," said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and chief executive officer. “SHRM is at the intersection of people and business around the globe and the leader to usher in the future of work that works for all.

Talent and career growth are at the heart of SHRM, so it is especially pleasing that our succession and mobility planning recognizes these great internal talents and the roles they play in SHRM’s important work. As we look to the future and with our members at the center of all we do, we must shape the environment around them by working with stakeholders, media, policymakers, and advocacy supporters to continue to effectively position SHRM for continued growth. These leadership changes position us to do just that.”  

In the fall of 2022, SHRM announced the acquisition of CEO Academy, a high-level, intensive learning and networking experience focusing on key issues and trends that are top of mind for CEOs. SHRM also announced the acquisition of Linkage Inc., a premier leadership development firm in the U.S. committed to advancing women and accelerating inclusion in leaders and organizations.

About SHRM

SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. More than 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies rely on SHRM to be their go-to resource for all things work and their business partner in creating next-generation workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM