Experience & Recognition | Chris Courneen

Focus Areas

Broad expertise. One throughline: margin.

AI, HR, modernization, sales, operations, leadership, and technology: a unique toolset built to see across the entire business and drive margin.

Focus Area

AI-Driven Enterprise Transformation

From recruitment automation to predictive analytics that cut cost-per-hire and shrink time-to-productivity.

Focus Area

HR Modernization

Modernizing how HR creates business value: systems and decisions built to expand margin, not just headcount efficiency.

Focus Area

Organizational Design

Structuring the org to eliminate redundant cost and support growth without adding headcount.

Focus Area

Leadership Development

Building leaders who protect margin, retention, and productivity, not just morale scores.

Focus Area

Workforce Transformation

Moving from a traditional cost-center model to a lean, tech-enabled function that pays for itself.

Focus Area

Enterprise Integration

Aligning strategy, leadership, human capital, culture, operations, and AI into one system built for sustainable margin expansion.

Core Leadership Expertise

Built for the boardroom, not just the HR org chart.

A CHRO who also ran sales operations and a warehouse floor: not a career HR generalist.

Trusted CEO & Executive Advisor, with deep operating expertise across:

Cross-Functional Business Partnership

Workforce & Succession Strategy

Compensation & Total Rewards

AI-Enabled HR Transformation

Culture, Engagement & Change

Employee Relations, Litigation & Risk

Manufacturing & Distribution Environments

Commissioned Sales & B2B Environments

SG&A & Cost Structure Optimization

Operational Excellence & Productivity

Benefits & Workers' Compensation Strategy

Enterprise Risk Advisory

The Path

An enterprise operator, built from the floor up.

Every role built the same muscle: turning workforce strategy into SG&A savings, margin, and measurable business outcomes. Click any role to expand it.

Senior Vice President, Global Head of HR (CHRO)

MS International (MSI) · March 2025 – Present

Enterprise HR executive for a multi-billion dollar global manufacturer with integrated manufacturing, import, sales, and distribution operations. Owns global HR strategy across every region and two manufacturing businesses.

Vice President, Global Head of HR (CHRO)

MS International (MSI) · March 2021 – March 2025

Architected MSI's global COVID-19 workforce response. Designed AI-enabled HR operating models that reduced time-to-hire by three weeks and lifted HR operations and L&D productivity 250%. Re-engineered wellness and medical benefits strategy, avoiding $3.5M in projected cost increases.

Senior Director, North America Head of HR

MS International (MSI) · June 2019 – March 2021

Stabilized high-volume warehouse operations by reducing attrition from 53% to a sustained 20%, generating $4.5M in annualized savings. Partnered with IT to build an in-house applicant tracking system, HRIS, and time & attendance system.

HR Regional Manager / Employee Relations Manager / Talent Acquisition Manager

McMaster-Carr Supply Company · HR Leadership Roles

Led regional HR across a multi-site, multi-billion dollar B2B industrial supply company. Built succession planning and leadership development frameworks. Restructured Talent Acquisition, lifting offer-acceptance rates 15%.

Sales Operations Manager · Inventory Control · Inbound Supply

McMaster-Carr Supply Company · Operations & Commercial Leadership

Before HR: managed receiving for 500,000 SKUs, oversaw inventory accuracy across an 800,000 sq. ft. facility, and led order, expedite, and logistics teams, reducing error rates 20% and improving customer outcomes 85%.

Awards, Recognition & Advisory Roles