The CHRO role in Latin America is rapidly evolving into a highly strategic position within the C-suite. Once primarily focused on localized talent management and operating largely in functional silos, today’s HR leaders are central partners in enterprise leadership.
To better understand what drives CHRO success in Latin America, we analyzed the backgrounds and expertise of 294 CHROs across six countries, using Spencer Stuart’s proprietary data and conducted in-depth interviews with 44 sitting CHROs to capture their firsthand perspectives.
Here are some key findings from the report:
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Age, tenure and overall experience remain stable. The average age of CHROs is 51.4, compared with 51.6 in 2022, with an average tenure of 6.2 years.
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A majority of CHROs have international exposure. 68% of CHROs accumulated experience in multinational environments.
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Career paths into the role are becoming more diverse. 43% of CHROs have held roles outside of human resources, and 39% have served in regional HR leadership positions.
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The CHRO role has reached gender parity, though regional variations exist. Women account for 50% of CHRO roles across the region, up from 48% in 2022.
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Internal promotion and external hiring are split. Over the past four years, approximately 51% of CHROs were promoted internally, while 49% were hired externally.
In addition, sitting CHROs are at the center of rapid technological change, balancing workforce reskilling, generational diversity and the integration of AI and automation. They are also leading efforts in compliance, ethical governance and fostering people-centric cultures to build resilient organizations. To succeed in this landscape, CHROs must adapt, remain flexible and address these pressing business challenges.