SHRM CEO Hank Jackson to Retire

Henry Jackson, leader of the Society for Human Resource Management since 2010, will retire at the end of the year.

“Hank Jackson has made lasting contributions to SHRM and the HR profession,” said Coretha Rushing, chair of SHRM’s Board of Directors and corporate vice president and chief human resources officer at Equifax.

“But his work is not over,” Rushing continued, in a statement announcing Jackson’s retirement. “During his final year, he will continue to lead SHRM and ensure that the goals set out in its strategic plan are met. Come December, we will wish him well in his retirement. He will be greatly missed.”

During his tenure as president and CEO the association grew to a record 289,000 members and launched its own certification program, competing with HRCI, SHRM’s former partner.

Jackson also weathered an insurgency that arose soon after he was promoted to CEO from his previous job as SHRM’s chief global finance and business affairs officer.

Calling itself SHRM Members for Transparency, the group included many well known and respected former SHRM board members, executives, and current SHRM members. According to a TLNT report, the group objected to secret actions by the 2010 SHRM Board of Directors raising the price of dues in the midst of a global recession while simultaneously raising the honorarium board members are paid and the perks they receive.

The group had some limited success, but became largely inactive after losing an effort to elect six new members to the SHRM board in 2012.

Under Jackson’s leadership SHRM broadened its global reach, opening an office in the United Arab Emirates, hosting an HR technology conference in India and developing partnerships with organizations in some 65 countries. In addition, the Council for Global Immigration and HR People + Strategy became SHRM affiliates.

The year Jackson was named CEO the organization reported a $3.23 million deficit on revenue of $93.8 million. The following year, 2011, revenue improved to $101.9 million with a surplus of $4.99 million. For 2014, the last year for which SHRM’s tax filings are available, the organization reported revenue of $113.02 million and a deficit of $232,481.

As SHRM’s finances improved following the recession, so did Jackson’s pay. In 2011, his first full year as CEO, he was paid $997,590. In 2014, he earned $1.77 million.

A search for his successor has already begun. The SHRM board hired the Spencer Stuart executive search firm to develop a list of candidates.