SHRM Announces 2026 Executive Council Members

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Today, SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, announced the addition of 6 business executives to the SHRM Executive Council.

Joining the Executive Council is: Allison Ausband, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Delta Air Lines, Inc.; Christopher Courneen, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, MSI Surfaces; Bettina Deynes, Global Chief Human Resources Officer, Carnival Corporation & plc; Betty Larson, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Merck; Katie Lawler, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW); and Chris Mikulski, Head of Human Resources, H&M Americas. 

The SHRM Executive Council is an elite advisory group comprised of senior CHROs, business leaders, and academics who provide SHRM with direct input on the workforce issues organizations are actively managing. The Council advises SHRM on what leaders need to operate effectively today and prepare for what’s ahead—across talent, risk, culture, and performance. Its input shapes SHRM’s research, priorities, and member offerings, ensuring they reflect both the realities organizations are navigating now and the shifts that will define the future of work. 

“I’m proud to welcome this distinguished group of leaders to the SHRM Executive Council,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM. “At a time when organizations are being tested from every direction, the Council’s guidance will play a critical role in helping SHRM translate today’s workforce realities into practical insight and bold action—so we're not just keeping pace with change, but shaping what comes next.”

The SHRM Executive Council also includes the following returning members: 

• Tracy B. Brightman, EVP and Chief People Officer, FedEx Corporation

• Sheri B. Bronstein, Chief People Officer, Bank of America

• Jyoti Chopra, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, The Hertz Corporation

• Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management, Harvard Business School

• Dr. Katy George, Corporate Vice President, Workforce Transformation, Microsoft

• John Whelan, VP and Chief Human Resources Officer, Yale University

• Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO, SHRM

To learn more about the SHRM Executive Council, visit: shrm.org/enterprise-solutions/shrm-executive-council 

Allison Ausband

Allison Ausband is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Delta Air Lines. She leads the company’s global talent management, total rewards and human resources service delivery functions in support of Delta’s 100,000-strong workforce, who make up Delta’s unique people-first culture.

Christopher Courneen

Chris Courneen serves as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Human Resources (CHRO) at MS International, Inc. (MSI), one of the largest importers of goods into the United States and North America’s leading supplier of flooring, countertops, and hard surface building materials. He leads global people strategy across MSI’s expansive national and international operations, aligning workforce capability to enterprise growth, operational scale, and long-term value creation.

Bettina Deynes

Bettina leads the global human resources function for Carnival Corporation & plc and its eight world class cruise lines. In this role, she oversees a workforce of more than 160,000 global employees from 150 countries. Reporting to the CEO, Bettina is ultimately responsible for all human capital, including attracting, retaining, and rewarding talent; leading more collaborative approaches with the operating companies to optimize human resources (HR), as well as enhancing the company’s culture and leading the organization’s Wellness efforts.

Betty Larson

Betty Larson is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Merck (NYSE: MRK), a global biopharmaceutical company with more than $65 billion in annual revenue and approximately 75,000 team members operating in more than 140 countries. As CHRO, Betty leads global human resources, overseeing an HR organization of approximately 2,000 professionals and partners. With nearly 30 years of experience—including 12 years in chief human resources officer and chief people officer roles—Betty brings strong business acumen and a strategic, enterprise-wide perspective to building leadership and organizational capabilities, strengthening culture, and leading large-scale transformation.

Katie Lawler

Katie Lawler is Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), a global, multi-industrial manufacturing company. She leads ITW’s enterprise human resources strategy supporting approximately 43,000 colleagues across 43 countries. Katie’s work is central to advancing the Next Phase of ITW’s Enterprise Strategy, with a focus on attracting, developing, and retaining Great ITW Leaders and talent in order to build high‑quality organic growth, strengthen Customer‑Back Innovation, and sustain ITW’s decentralized, entrepreneurial culture.

Chris Mikulski

Chris Mikulski is Head of Human Resources for H&M Americas, the global fashion brand known for providing fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. He leads the Americas people strategy, partnering with senior leaders to strengthen organizational capability, advance talent priorities, and support business performance across a large retail organization. With more than 20 years of experience in retail and human resources leadership, Chris brings a people‑first, outcomes‑driven approach focused on enabling growth, transformation, and an inclusive workplace culture.

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.