The Evolution of The CHRO: 5 Eras and What's Next

The CHRO's New Mission is Shaping the Future of Work, Leadership, & Employee Experience

Over the last few decades, the role of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) has transformed dramatically. CHROs (and for that matter anyone in HR) were once seen as purely functional leaders who were driving a cost center. They were focused on things like compliance, benefits, and hiring.

In fact, the first official structured HR department was created in 1901 by NCR the (National Cash Register Company). After the company went through a few strikes the president of the company John H. Patterson, established a "personnel department" to handle grievances, improve worker conditions, and manage employee welfare programs. Thus the HR department was born.

However it took almost another 100 years before CHRO became an official title. One of the first CHROs in corporate history is Patricia Nazemetz, who held the role at Xerox in the 1990s and early 2000s. She pioneered HR strategies that connected workforce planning with business growth, setting the stage for HR executives to become integral members of leadership teams.

Today, CHROs are expected to be key strategic advisors, shaping the organization’s future alongside the CEO, CFO, and board. In a world driven by rapid technological advancements, shifting workforce expectations, and economic uncertainty, CHROs are no longer just HR specialists—they are business strategists who are focusing on the future of work and employee experience.

If you’re a CHRO moving beyond traditional HR to focus on the future of work, employee experience, and leadership, then you’re going to want to check out Future of Work Leaders! Join CHROs from Johnson & Johnson, Dow, Lego, Neiman Marcus, Tractor Supply, Northrop Grumman, and dozens of others. No fluff, just insights, connections, & value.

We actually went through four eras of the CHRO and we are now entering the fifth one. Here’s how we got here and what’s next.