A native of Nigeria, Emerson’s new and first “Chief People Officer” was, since 2016, vice president and director of human resources of the American multinational Ingredion, which specializes in the production of food raw materials.
Founded in 1890 and a Fortune 500 company, Emerson Electric Company, commonly referred to as Emerson , headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to its customers in the industrial, commercial and residential markets. In 2020, the company had 83,500 employees in 93 countries, with revenues of $16.8 billion.
Member of the CEO’s office
Elizabeth Adefioye considers herself a global citizen, having lived and worked in the United States, emerging markets, Asia and Europe. In her new position, she will be based in St. Louis at Emerson’s headquarters and, according to Emerson, will lead a newly consolidated human resources function, including responsibility for culture, employee experience, end-to-end talent management, diversity, equity and inclusion, acquisition integration, organizational development and effectiveness, total rewards and the HRIS human resources management information system. In addition, it says, she will have full responsibility for ensuring that the people and culture agenda supports the company’s ambitious business goals.
Elizabeth Adefioye also joins the office of Emerson’s Chairman and CEO, Lal Karsanbhai, who helps develop and guide the company’s global business strategies.
Lal Karsanbhai, president and CEO of Emerson said, “We are building momentum around our cultural evolution, with a greater focus on creating an inclusive environment that further fuels the high level of innovation that has characterized Emerson for over 130 years. Elizabeth has a proven track record of leadership and experience in leading teams to success, and we look forward to her bringing that passion and spark to Emerson. The addition of a leader of her caliber, knowledge and energy will only accelerate our efforts and strengthen Emerson as a destination workplace for exceptional talent.”
Multinational Human Resources Expert
Elizabeth Adefioye was Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Ingredion Inc, a Fortune 500 company based in suburban Chicago with more than 12,000 employees. In this role, she was responsible for all global human resources functions, including talent acquisition, leadership development, compensation and benefits, and diversity, inclusion and engagement. In addition, she was responsible for implementing human resources strategies that build a high-performance culture by attracting and developing world-class talent and creating a high-performing organization. Elizabeth Adefioye, it is explained, led the transformation of the company’s culture and business and the development of a new statement of purpose and contemporary values, centered around three simple words: Making Life Better. Elizabeth Adefioye joined Ingredion in 2016 as vice president, human resources for North America and global specialties.
Previously, she was global vice president of human resources, cardiovascular franchise and specialty surgery group at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company, leading a $21 billion business. In this role, she was responsible for the overall HR function. Under the direction of the group president, she provided overall leadership, vision and innovation in human resources. Her responsibility was to ensure the link between business and human resources strategies and to deliver objectives that are aligned with both and that impact the global footprint of five diverse businesses, positioned at different stages for continued growth.
Prior to this, Elizabeth Adefioye worked for Novartis Consumer Health as Vice President of Human Resources for North America and Vice President of HR for Global Manufacturing and Procurement as well as Regional HR Manager – Emerging Growth Markets.
She started her career at Medtronic, a medical technology company, where she successively held the positions of Senior HR Manager and Regional HR Manager Central and Eastern Europe. She also worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb, an American pharmaceutical company.
Among the most powerful women in business in the US
Elizabeth Adefioye holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Lagos State University, a postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster in London, and a diploma in Leadership Development and Leadership in Action from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. Although she has lived and worked in the United States, Asia and Europe, Adefioye will be based at Emerson’s St. Louis headquarters.
Elizabeth Adefioye said, “Emerson is a proven leader with a renewed focus on creating a strong internal culture to propel not only the company but the industries it serves into a brighter future. Companies can have the strongest growth strategy, but if they don’t intentionally foster a culture that supports and strengthens all voices within the organization, that strategy will not succeed. I am excited about Emerson’s commitment to culture and look forward to working with Lal, the board and the entire organization to continue to move forward together.”
As part of her work on diversity, equity and inclusion, Elizabeth Adefioye is an ambassador for the Network of Executive Women (NEW). She serves on the boards of the Society for Human Resources Management and Skills for Chicagoland’s Future and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. She was named one of the “100 Extraordinary Black Women of the Elite 2021” who are changing the face of corporate America. She was awarded in recognition of her work in leading complex transformations, addressing systemic racism in the workplace, building morale through innovative programs and sustaining profitable outcomes.
A Passion for People
Elizabeth Adefioye has also been named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise and in 2018, she was a recipient of the Profiles in Diversity Journal’s “Women Worth Watching Awards.” At that time, she had said “when I graduated from college, I had no idea that my path would lead me to such a rewarding career in human resources. It was my passion for people and my desire to live and lead by influencing change through diverse business practices that led me to this incredible journey. I’ve had the privilege of working on many high-performing teams around the world, and I’ve learned valuable lessons along the way – and diversity is a constant driver of success.
The discussion of diversity in the workplace is not new, and we’ve recently seen the conversation intensify in the news as more and more individuals, organizations, and people of power speak out on feminism, the gender pay gap, and immigration reform. This moment prompted me to think more about diversity within an organization, which I have always seen as an essential ingredient in building successful teams and organizations.
Early in my career, I learned the importance of surrounding myself with a team that brings a diversity of thought, different experiences and unique perspectives. This type of teamwork and collaboration has helped me make better, more meaningful decisions for my employer and ultimately drive positive change. To drive innovation and meet the needs of your customers, teams must not only be diverse to reflect your customer base, but also think and act with a common purpose. This will create an environment where everyone has a place and where diverse experiences and perspectives are leveraged to achieve superior results for both customers and employees. Stephen Covey once said, “Strength lies in differences, not similarities.” This phrase rings true to me and has guided me in developing teams that can deliver results that positively impact the bottom line of the company.
In today’s business environment, the pace of change is faster than ever, and companies must respond quickly with innovative ideas and solutions to remain competitive. I’ve learned that this can be achieved by ensuring that your company leverages the diverse ideas and skills of its people. The next breakthrough idea, whether it’s a new food solution or a revolutionary drug, will come from tapping into the diverse skills of employees who are encouraged to voice ideas, seek innovation and develop solutions. Regardless, people are the most important asset of any organization, and I will continue to work to ensure that this is the hallmark of employment at Ingredion”.
