Vesna Penava
Summary
Global strategic business and people leader with 20 years of progressive expertise in crafting, implementing & advancing organizational talent transformation strategies across entertainment/tech, oil & gas, FMCG, and financial services.
Innately creative with the ability to seamlessly partner with executives and teams to accelerate project implementation, fuel growth, and drive organizational effectiveness in multiple geographies. A sharp eye for talent with unquestioned integrity and a knack for managing senior-level relationships and sensitive Human Resources issues in a global environment. Global citizen deeply valuing and celebrating diverse experiences; having lived and worked extensively in Europe, Canada, and the United States, allowing for a genuine appreciation of cultures and deep insights while building award-winning, diverse, and inclusive workplaces.
Key Differentiators
- Uncompromising commitment to building top-talent leadership teams and establishing unprecedented standards for performance.
- Driver of high-stakes transformational change efforts from inception to successful outcomes and sustainability.
- Builder of cutting-edge, comprehensive, and fully integrated talent retention, and development programs from the ground up. - Passionate Employee Experience Guru with demonstrated expertise in strategic branding, employee value proposition, onboarding, engagement, and internal communications.
- Savvy leader of employee relations in multi-unionized complex labour environments.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
VP & People Officer, Corporate Functions; VP & People Officer, Global Platform & Technology
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
01.2017 - Current
- Strategic partner to Chief Administration Officer, CTO, and Chief Commercial Officer; accountable for talent & culture strategy for 2,600+ talented engineers, data scientists, commercial and marketing experts, and the largest e-sports organization in the industry.
- Enabled further shared services evolution of the go-to-market team, overseeing global complex reorganization.
- Strong focus on enhanced employee experience via active collaboration with our COEs, resulting in performance management reinvented, manager foundations curriculum launched, compensation redesigned, talent branding enhanced, and creation of first-ever employee relations practice.
- Lead development & implementation of new onboarding framework resulting in 5% lowered attrition in the first year.
- Improved focus, accountability, and transparency across the company, leading the implementation of goal-setting initiatives resulting in all employees having performance goals.
- Successfully led people transition planning and readiness for first-ever major operating model shift (outsourcing of 1000 employees globally) resulting in $50M operating cost savings YoY.
- Continue to mentor and advocate for women in technology; all leadership goals fueled by DEI initiatives, leaders actively sponsoring efforts across the enterprise, first-ever mentorship program launched.
Head of HR, Business Partnerships
ELECTRONIC ARTS - BIOWARE ULC
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Responsible for people, culture, talent & internal communication strategy for three highly diverse matrix org studios (offices) in Canada and the USA, with a 1,000-employee base
- Execution and embedding of Global HR strategy and initiatives at the local level – Alberta, Quebec, & Texas
- Accountable for delivery & deployment of programs and frameworks in total rewards, leadership development, talent acquisition, team health (engagement survey), and continuous improvement culture.
- Drove transformational activities, change management initiatives, and digital people strategies to leverage organizational & team health, talent & leadership programs, and data insights linked to strategic decision-making to enable a high-performance culture.
- Developed a diversity and inclusion leadership agenda, embedding diversity indicators into organizational goals, increasing the gender representation pool by 6.5% YoY.
- Developed organizational health scorecard (talent trends, patterns, risks, opportunities) and infused people-insights-into-action strategic talent capabilities.
- Implemented Managing for Results performance management philosophy: from annual performance appraisals and ratings to ongoing (quarterly) conversations focusing on purpose and impact (no ratings).
- Devised and launched Internal Communications Framework, addressing communication gaps in main engagement/performance drivers.
- BioWare pronounced the Best Workplace in Alberta for 2016.
Head of People & Culture
WORLEYPARSONS WESTERN CANADA
01.2015 - 01.2015
- Responsible for designing and implementing talent & culture programs for 3 locations and 3,000 people in the region.
- Major areas governed include cultural & organizational development, talent attraction & retention, leadership development/coaching, driving performance culture, employee relations, total rewards, communications, and diversity & inclusion
- Developed talent development & succession programs – structured framework (critical roles focus, rotational assignments, customized comp solutions) significantly impacted engagement of key talent, resulting in a reduced regretted turnover rate by 2% by EoQ2 2015.
- Developed & launched a leadership development framework, addressing leveling and core competencies.
- Introduced continuous improvement initiative addressing overall business improvement – championing 50% of 2015 initiatives related to rigorous operational effectiveness/excellence, strategic communication & driving cultural shift while injecting more fun into the workplace.
- HR business model change – introduced HRBP value proposition, reorganized & optimized roles and responsibilities streamlining generalist capabilities to meet leveraged expectations/workload.
- Implemented a culture change roadmap - driving high engagement & performance, fortifying Zero Harm value proposition & fit-for-purpose project management delivery model.
- Led major downsizing (60% workforce reduction) and crisis management efforts, preserving key skills for the future.
Executive Director HR & OD
MOL GROUP OF COMPANIES
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Responsible for building from the ground up and leading HR function for 2 retail downstream oil & gas businesses in the CEE region with 5,000 employees.
- Introduced strategic HRBP embedded model, built HR functional agility to support customer-centric go-to-market business transformation, with a disciplined approach to drive rhythm and structure.
- Built organizational capability through talent management and accountability processes, including strategic goal setting, business until alignment goals, ongoing performance management, and employee development via commitment statements (goals).
- Fostered positive labor relations and constructive social dialogue in a multi-unionized environment; successfully renegotiated collective agreements in 2012, resulting in a 22% labor cost reduction.
- Introduced HR controlling - managed annual business planning and headcount budgeting process establishing org consistency and transparency.
- Developed and introduced an HR scorecard with key business indicators - actionable metrics that drive forecasting capabilities and strategic insights, resulting in proactive corrective action plans.
- Led major downsizing projects in both companies, resulting in a headcount reduction of 40% and a streamlined organizational design, while preserving critical skills/talent retention.
- Devised and implemented leadership leveling & development program – resulting in key role/critical talent identification, cumbersome feedback sessions, and two streams of leadership development programs – emerging leaders and mature Leaders.
- Introduced employer branding & social media platforms; achieved Employer of Choice award in the oil & gas industry in 2014.
Head of Human Resources, Bosnia & Croatia
COCA-COLA HBC INC.
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Responsible for facilitating the entire gamut of HR activities for two business units, with 3 manufacturing plants and full supply chain capabilities.
- Streamlined HR governance, procedures & systems to maximize departmental performance and optimize cost structure (outsourced payroll), while focusing on enhancing employee engagement and fortifying talent pipeline.
- Successfully redefined job grading system and transformed HR function into a strategic business partner model.
- Implemented employer branding strategy – Coca-Cola HBC an Employer of Choice for 3 consecutive years.
- Successfully completed the certification process for 'Employer Partner' for three consecutive years - the only company in B&H awarded for excellence in HRM practices.
- An active participator in company corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects and platform building - won top country CSR award for two consecutive years.
- Led a twelve-month advanced leadership development program for the senior leadership team, resulting in enhanced performance YoY, increased engagement, and filled leadership bench.
- Led SAP WAVE 2 and shared services implementation including change management for 2 business units.
Corporate HR Manager
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (KFSI)
01.2001 - 01.2007
- Managing corporate HR team with strategic responsibility for 4 Canadian and 3 US subsidiaries.
Education
Associate of Arts - Business Administration And Management
Toronto School of Management
06.2022
Certified Human Resources Leader
Canadian Council of Human Resources
11.2014
Certified Human Resources Professional
Canadian Council of Human Resources
10.2006
Associate of Arts - Human Resources And Labour Relations
Humber College
Toronto, ON06.2005
Skills
- Client Relationship Building
- Organizational Development
- Internal Communications
- Employee Engagement
- Succession Planning
- Compensation Design
- Strategic Planning
- Labor Relations
- Leadership Development
- Conflict Resolution
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Talent Management
- Global HR Experience
Professional History
- ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, Toronto, Canada, 09/2017, Present, Vice President & People Officer, Corporate Functions
- ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, Toronto, Canada, 09/2017, 12/2019, Senior HR Director / Vice President & People Officer, Global Platform & Technology
- ELECTRONIC ARTS - BIOWARE ULC, Edmonton HQ, Canada, 01/2016, 09/2017, Head of HR, Business Partnerships
- WORLEYPARSONS WESTERN CANADA, Edmonton, Canada, 01/2015, 12/2015, Head of People & Culture
- MOL GROUP OF COMPANIES, Zagreb, Croatia, 04/2011, 12/2014, Executive Director Human Resources & Organizational Development
- COCA-COLA HBC INC., Sarajevo, B&H, 04/2008, 05/2011, Head of Human Resources, Bosnia & Croatia
- KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (KFSI), Toronto, Canada, 09/2001, 12/2007, Corporate Human Resources Manager
Education Certifications
- CHRL Designation, 2014
- CHRP Designation, 2006
- B.A., Human Resource Management Diploma with Honors Standing
- Business Administration Diploma with Honors Standing
Languages
English
Bosnian
Croatian
Serbian
Timeline
VP & People Officer, Corporate Functions; VP & People Officer, Global Platform & Technology
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
01.2017 - Current
Head of HR, Business Partnerships
ELECTRONIC ARTS - BIOWARE ULC
01.2016 - 01.2017
Head of People & Culture
WORLEYPARSONS WESTERN CANADA
01.2015 - 01.2015
Executive Director HR & OD
MOL GROUP OF COMPANIES
01.2011 - 01.2014
Head of Human Resources, Bosnia & Croatia
COCA-COLA HBC INC.
01.2008 - 01.2011
Corporate HR Manager
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (KFSI)
01.2001 - 01.2007
Associate of Arts - Business Administration And Management
Toronto School of Management
Certified Human Resources Leader
Canadian Council of Human Resources
Certified Human Resources Professional
Canadian Council of Human Resources
Associate of Arts - Human Resources And Labour Relations
Humber College
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