Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series, What is a CPO? Hosted by Debbie Mitchell, Director at LACE Partners and lead of our CPO Network, this series explores the evolving role of the Chief People Officer (CPO). Through conversations with experienced CPOs, we’ll dive into how the function is changing, the challenges leaders face, and how collaboration is shaping the future of HR.
In this mini-series, we’ll be speaking with leaders who have held or currently hold the role across different industries and sectors. In this episode, Debbie is joined by Nicky Bliss, People Director at Sainsbury’s and a member of our CPO Network. Together, they dive into the central question: What is a CPO?
A CPO is first and foremost a leader of the business, not just of the HR function. They sit at the executive table, helping to drive strategy, profitability, and company culture. The CPO ensures that people initiatives directly support commercial goals whether that means approving payroll, leading transformation projects, or presenting workforce strategies to the board.
How can CPOs build effective teams?
Nicky states that great CPOs don’t wear every hat themselves but instead build a team of specialists. For example:
The CPO’s role is to coordinate, not micromanage, ensuring each “hat” is worn consistently by experts.
How is the CPO’s influence shaped by company structure?
A CPO’s influence is deeply shaped by the ownership model of the organisation. What do we mean by that? Debbie and Nicky explain:
Are you a CPO looking to meet likeminded individuals? Our CPO network meet semi-regularly to share insights, discuss challenges and people solutions around the fast-evolving role of a CPO.
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