Chief People Officer

Neela Seenandan

Neela is a seasoned human resources leader who drives a strategic talent agenda focused on recruiting, compensation, talent management, and Diversity & Inclusion. 

Neela is a co-CEO and Managing Partner at Hanold Associates which is an Executive Search firm she has led alongside her husband since 2012. She leads the firm’s HR Advisory Practice. Prior to this, Neela was the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at  Nielsen in their consumer practice.  Neela had a progressive career in human resources leadership roles  within Aon Corporation,  joining in 2006, she served as its VP of Executive Talent Acquisition and Development. In 2007, she became VP, Global Head of Human Resources for Aon Re Global. After the acquisition of Benfield in 2008, Neela ran the global HR integration of the newly formed Aon Benfield. Neela was also asked to lead the HR integration of Aon and Hewitt Associates and become the Global Head of Human Resources for the integrated business, Aon Hewitt.

Prior to Aon, Neela  was with McKinsey & Company where she ran recruiting and professional development for North America and the business technology office, now known as McKinsey Digital.  Neela also worked closely with the senior leadership team in the financial services and insurance practice and in the last two years at McKinsey focused on executive development and partner and director performance coaching.

Born and educated in London, England, Neela started her career in executive search with Michael Page. She spent a number of years in the United Kingdom and Prague, Czech Republic before moving to Chicago.

Neela has a  Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. She’s active with her family, her husband and 4 boys  and a strong supporter of numerous charities, including Save the Children, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights and NFL’s Fight for a Cause.