CPO Executive Search

Placing Strategic Chief People Officers to Drive Transformation and Growth

Allura Partners' Executive Search team specialises in appointing Chief People Officers (CPOs) who can deliver immediate and sustained impact. With a proven track record of building long-term partnerships with private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as corporates and ASX-listed companies, we take a collaborative approach to placing results-driven HR leaders. By understanding our client's business strategy, organisational culture, and leadership needs, we identify CPOs who can translate strategic vision into effective people solutions.

The right CPO is crucial to organisational success, particularly during periods of significant growth, transformation, or transition. We focus on identifying HR leaders with strong commercial acumen, business understanding, and strategic thinking abilities—professionals who put the business first and develop people strategies that align with and support organisational objectives.

We seek individuals with exceptional learning agility, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complex business challenges while keeping people at the heart of the organisation.

Benefits at a Glance

  • Long-Term Partners

    We take time to understand a company’s vision and are also committed to aligning talent to their aspirational goals.  

  • High-Performing Talent Pool

    Access a top-tier talent pool built upon our research team’s trust and relationships in the market.  

  • Empowering Executives

    We partner with executives to build a transformative team to accelerate their success. 

  • Industry Expertise

    We place leading executives across industries, blending market expertise with fresh perspectives to drive success. 

  • Fractional or Interim Services

    Leverage seasoned Fractional Managementor Interim CPOs to address leadership gaps, manage transitions, or drive transformation initiatives.  

Building Lasting HR Leadership Partnerships

Our team works closely with emerging HR leaders throughout their careers, maintaining a network of exceptional talent across multiple industries and sectors. We remain a resource for the company and the appointed HR executive, supporting them in building high-performing teams and delivering on strategic objectives over time. By prioritising relationships and long-term alignment, we ensure every placement is set up for mutual success.

Through discovery conversations, we dive deep into an organisation's investment thesis, culture, and leadership requirements to ensure the right talent match, ultimately driving value creation in line with business timelines and objectives. We specialise in placing HR executives and senior leaders across the following HR functions:​

  • Learning & Development

  • Talent Acquisition

  • Organisation Development

  • Business Partnering

  • Industrial Relations & Employee Relations

  • Compensation, Remuneration & Benefits

  • HR Data & Analytics

Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A Chief People Officer (CPO) shapes an organisation's people strategy to drive business success. They attract, develop, and retain top talent, ensuring the company has the right people to achieve its goals. By fostering a strong workplace culture, they create an environment where employees feel engaged and productive.

    CPOs also play a key role in leadership development, coaching executives and implementing succession planning to build future leaders from within. They champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by creating policies that promote fairness and representation across all levels of the organisation. Additionally, they align HR strategies with broader business objectives, ensuring that talent initiatives support long-term growth and sustainability.

  • A successful Chief People Officer (CPO) must operate as a strategic business leader, not just a people executive. This means deeply understanding the business model, co-owning business outcomes, and having input into areas such as product direction, go-to-market strategy, and revenue growth. Beyond leading people-centric initiatives like talent development, culture, and organisational design, a high-impact CPO is critical in shaping company strategy alongside the executive team. They use data-driven insight and business acumen to influence decisions across departments, aligning people strategy directly with commercial goals to drive sustainable growth and transformation.

  • Ultimately, a CPO plays a vital role in shaping the company's culture, leadership and long-term success. They directly influence a company's performance by:

    • Attracting & Retaining Top Talent: A well-structured people strategy ensures the right leaders and teams are in place.

    • Enhancing Employee Productivity & Engagement: Engaged employees are more motivated, productive, and innovative.

    • Driving Organisational Agility: A CPO helps companies adapt to change by ensuring teams are resilient and future-ready.

    • Strengthening Leadership & Succession Planning: Developing leaders from within ensures business continuity.

    • Aligning People & Business Goals: A strong CPO bridges the gap between HR and business strategy, ensuring the workforce supports long-term objectives.

A Commitment to Executive Search

For those seeking an Executive Search service across Australia and New Zealand, we provide trusted hiring expertise to match the right leader with the right role.