12 Chief People Officers Serving Greater Boston

Last updated: August 2026

As of August 2026, these 12 chief people officers serve organisations across Greater Boston in public service, health, technology, finance, media and community work. The people below offer useful examples of how senior people leadership can sit close to the real decisions that shape a workplace.

Chief people officers help turn an organisation’s goals into clearer expectations, better conversations and more workable systems for the people doing the work. The names are presented alphabetically by surname for easy navigation.

Why chief people leadership matters

A strong people function makes the invisible parts of work easier to see. It brings clarity to responsibilities, makes room for useful feedback and helps leaders turn values into decisions people can actually recognise.

When I work with leadership teams, I start by making hidden tension discussable. People leaders are often among the first to hear where expectations are unclear, where a decision has no owner or where a team is avoiding a necessary conversation.

1. Alex Lawrence

Chief People Officer, City of Boston

Alex Lawrence is the Chief People Officer at City of Boston, a leader working across Boston. The role places Alex close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Alex Lawrence oversees the People Operations Cabinet, including the City’s central human resources, labour relations and registry functions. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

2. Phillomin Laptiste

Chief People Officer, Community Care Cooperative

Phillomin Laptiste is the Chief People Officer at Community Care Cooperative, a leader working across Greater Boston. The role places Phillomin close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Phillomin Laptiste leads work across human resources, member operations and compliance for Community Care Cooperative. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

3. Tonya Bourassa

Chief People Officer, Center for Health Information and Analysis

Tonya Bourassa is the Chief People Officer at Center for Health Information and Analysis, a leader working across Boston. The role places Tonya close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Tonya Bourassa is listed on the agency’s live leadership page at its Boylston Street Boston office. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

4. Jeff Belanger

Chief People Officer, Aura

Jeff Belanger is the Chief People Officer at Aura, a leader working across Boston. The role places Jeff close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Jeff Belanger was appointed to lead Aura’s people strategy and operations as the company added him to its senior leadership team. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

5. Laura J. Boynton

Chief People Officer, The Boston Beer Company

Laura J. Boynton is the Chief People Officer at The Boston Beer Company, a leader working across Greater Boston. The role places Laura close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Laura J. Boynton was appointed Chief People Officer in November 2025 after a long career with the company. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

6. Tracy Keogh

Chief People Officer and Growth Partner, Great Hill Partners

Tracy Keogh is the Chief People Officer and Growth Partner at Great Hill Partners, a leader working across Boston. The role places Tracy close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Tracy Keogh works on talent development and people strategy for the firm and its portfolio companies. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

7. Jennifer Wambold

Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Eastern Bank

Jennifer Wambold is the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Eastern Bank, a leader working across Boston. The role places Jennifer close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Jennifer Wambold was promoted in March 2026 and appointed to Eastern’s Management Committee. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

8. Suzie Anthony

Chief People Officer, VitalEdge Technologies

Suzie Anthony is the Chief People Officer at VitalEdge Technologies, a leader working across Boston. The role places Suzie close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Suzie Anthony leads global people initiatives from the company’s Boston office. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

9. Jamella Lee

Chief People Officer, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston

Jamella Lee is the Chief People Officer at Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, a leader working across Boston. The role places Jamella close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Jamella Lee moved into the Chief People Officer role at Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston in 2025. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

10. Rodrigo Tajonar

Chief People Officer, Boston Globe Media

Rodrigo Tajonar is the Chief People Officer at Boston Globe Media, a leader working across Boston. The role places Rodrigo close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Rodrigo Tajonar brings global and regional human resources experience to Boston Globe Media. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

11. Minita Shah-Mara

Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Minita Shah-Mara is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a leader working across Boston. The role places Minita close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Minita Shah-Mara joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in 2025 to lead its people function. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

12. Victoria B. Kane

President and Chief People Officer, Dedham Institution for Savings

Victoria B. Kane is the President and Chief People Officer at Dedham Institution for Savings, a leader working across Greater Boston. The role places Victoria close to the decisions that shape how people experience work, from the daily systems around hiring and support to the larger choices about culture and leadership.

A useful detail is that Victoria B. Kane holds both the president and Chief People Officer roles at the Greater Boston financial institution. For readers who lead teams, that is a reminder that people work becomes practical when it is connected to the work an organisation is trying to do.

What these leaders show us about people work

The roles above sit in very different organisations, yet the common thread is practical responsibility. People leadership is not only an internal service. It can make it easier for leaders to name what good looks like, hold respectful disagreement and give people a clear next action.

That is especially useful during change. A new structure may help, but it will not repair a conversation the leadership team is still avoiding. The better starting point is often to make the trade-off visible and give one person ownership of the next move.

How to use this guide

Use the guide as a starting point for your own learning. Read the public work of these leaders and their organisations, then ask which of the same questions matter inside your team. You might look at how your workplace describes good work, how feedback arrives and who owns the next decision.

Keep the first experiment small. Pick one recurring meeting or people process and make the desired outcome, owner and next step explicit. Small changes are easier to test, and they give a team something concrete to improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a chief people officer do?

A chief people officer leads the people agenda for an organisation. The work can include culture, workforce planning, talent, learning, workplace practices and the support leaders need to make good decisions about their teams.

Are chief people officer and chief human resources officer the same?

The titles can describe similar senior responsibilities. Organisations use different language, so it is worth reading the leader’s current role description rather than assuming that every title carries identical responsibilities.

Why does people leadership matter to line managers?

Line managers make many of the moments people remember at work. Clear expectations, timely feedback and honest conversations are easier when people leaders provide useful systems and help leaders build the habit of using them well.

How can a team improve its people practices?

Start with one real point of friction. Name the decision, describe what good looks like, assign a clear owner and agree on the smallest next move. That gives the team a practical way to learn rather than a vague intention.

Conclusion

The most useful people work is close to the work people actually do. It helps leaders make expectations visible, handle difficult conversations with more care and create systems that make good decisions easier.

If you are leading a team, choose one area where people are guessing. Write down what good looks like, decide who owns the next move and revisit it after the team has tried it. That small act of clarity can improve a much larger part of the workplace.

Related Reading

For a broader view of people and culture leadership, read 50 Best Thought Leaders in Human Resources, 50 Essential Employee Experience Thought Leaders Globally and 12 Proven Strategies for Managing Board Pressure.

A practical next step

If your leadership team needs a clearer way to make decisions, handle tension or build a workplace people choose, Jonno White can help through a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.