Karen D. Weeks

About Karen D. Weeks

From Theatre Geek to HR Nerd, Karen has focused her 20+ year HR leadership career on…

Experience

1. Global Chief People Officer

   Obviously

   Oct 2023 — Present

   A VMLY & R/WPP Company-Started as fractional HR Leader (March 2021) to help with leadership development and recruited into the organization to expand my responsibilities to leading the entire people ops team-Joined full time in October 2023 to lead the People Ops team through the integration with VML-Worked closely both with the VML Global HR team to transition to VML’s ways of working-Responsible for the HR & Talent Acquisition strategy, budget, systems and programs-Partnered with executive team to lead the integration with WPP & VML after the acquisition including benefits and payroll review & transition, process alignment, and identifying career development opportunities-Launched new programs in Lattice focused on development including GROW, career pathing and goal setting-Created and implemented new compensation model and variable comp plans across the organization-Managed re-organization, two rounds of layoffs, and change management initiatives during different stages of the acquisition-Led the creation of an offshore Client Services team in Colombia & Philippines that grew to over 25 members in nine months-Led the integration of Obviously’s France team into the Global Obviously team structure-Created training programs to upskill the team across roles based on four box talent assessments

Education

• Pingree

  High School Diploma

  1991 — 1995

• Elon University

  Bachelor's degree, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General

• Elon University

  BA, Theatre Arts

  1995 — 1999

• Elon University

  Bachelor's degree

• Villanova University

  MS, Human Resources

  2009 — 2011