Company: Randstad US, Boston, MA
Entry Submitted By: MSL Atlanta
Company Description: Randstad is a $22.0 billion global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and has approximately 29,300 corporate employees and around 4,500 branches and inhouse locations in 39 countries.
Nomination Category: Human Resources Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Human Resources Executive of the Year

Nomination Title: Jim Link, Managing Director, Human Resources

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Since January 1, 2012, Jim Link has established and launched several professional and leadership development programs that fall under Randstad’s three strategic pillars: growth, profitability and engagement. Link used these pillars as guidelines for all HR activities, thereby maintaining business-critical initiatives and aligning with the company’s broader strategy.

For growth, Link focused on ongoing integration efforts, teaching sales intensity and offering expert-based HR resources to increase client retention. For profitability, Link implemented mentoring programs and created business performance metrics to demonstrate how profitability is impacted by employee knowledge/skill. For engagement, Link extended the HR team’s influence through employee growth initiatives, including internal proficiency certifications, structured and clearly communicated promotion days, and ExploreWork, Randstad’s mentoring program for students.

Link additionally rallied his team around two flagship programs in 2012: Leaders in Motion and Blue Chip Advantage.

Leaders in Motion was created for branch managers and newly promoted area vice presidents. This 12-session program incorporated both web-based and live-training modules to enhance operational, sales and leadership capabilities.

Blue Chip Advantage was an intensive seven-module leadership development program aimed at preparing already high-performing senior leaders for greater levels of responsibility. This in-residence program involved a rigorous nomination and selection process that aimed to make the best current leaders at Randstad even better.

Link additionally oversaw the launch of metrics-driven recruiting strategies to identify, select and retain the best employees in the industry. This innovative use of metrics and statistical analytics determines the correlation between learning initiatives and business results.

Link achieved all this in the face of rapid growth following the acquisition of SFN Group, which nearly doubled the US business. When Link first started at Randstad, the company employed 1,400 employees and put 45,000 people to work each week. In addition to working extensively on the acquisition of SFN Group, Link and his team were forced to adapt to a great change in magnitude and scope, leading 2,200 employees and placing nearly 80,000 people on average each week.

Link addressed these challenges by ensuring Randstad consistently communicated with current and new employees. He traveled extensively as a member of the senior leadership team to guarantee a world class organization.

In addition to his accomplishments from a business perspective, Link has been recognized by his peers as a leader in the HR industry. In 2012 alone, Link was nominated as a Top Ten National HR Breakaway Leader, re-elected to the board of Human Resource Leadership Forum and re-elected VP of Programming for Human Resources Leadership Forum. Link additionally serves on the Board for the SHRM Foundation Major Gifts Council.

Link elevated Randstad’s thought leadership through speaking engagements at numerous universities and organizations, including teaching an executive MBA course on Modern HR Strategy and Leadership at the Poznan University School of Economics in Poland. He served as Randstad’s primary media spokesperson, with coverage spanning Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NPR and FOX Business, among others.

Successes include:

• Enhanced recruiter efficiency by more than 20%
• Internal promotions vs external hires increased 11% YoY
• # leadership programs tripled
• # employees participating in professional development increased 1100% (44 to 483)
• Average profitability increase for those attending advanced programming = 23%

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the nominee::

As Managing Director, Human Resources, Jim Link has overall responsibility for driving the human capital strategy for Randstad US, which currently puts more than 75,000 people to work each week through its expansive network of more than 10,000 customers.  Link is responsible for managing the Randstad Center of Learning Excellence, organizational design and strategy, talent acquisition, national operations and employee relations.

As a sought-after speaker, presenter and panelist, Link’s expertise spans leadership dynamics, cultural differences, generational diversity, performance management and general business strategy and competition.

Link’s 25-year career has included multiple assignments in General Electric, The Pillsbury Company and Porsche Cars North America. Link earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication and is designated as a SPHR by the Society for Human Resources Management.