Avaya, a key player in the enterprise customer experience (CX) space, has announced the appointment of Kamilah Thomas as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer (CPO). With over 20 years of global human resources leadership, Thomas will guide Avaya’s global human resources and culture transformation, supporting the company’s ‘Destination Place to Work’ journey. Thomas’s role will also include leading Avaya’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) efforts.
- Avaya appoints Kamilah Thomas as the Chief People Officer (CPO) to lead global human resources organisation and culture transformation.
- Thomas brings over 20 years of experience in human resources leadership, having worked at companies like Roku, Dow Jones & Company and A+E Networks.
- Her role at Avaya includes overseeing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) efforts to create an equitable and inclusive work environment and culture.
A New Era for Avaya
Avaya, a key player in the Enterprise CX domain, is taking substantial steps to reinvigorate its leadership team. A recent announcement revealed the appointment of Kamilah Thomas as the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer (CPO). Thomas joined at the beginning of June and is based at Avaya’s central corporate office in Morristown, New Jersey, reporting directly to CEO Alan Masarek.
Meet Kamilah Thomas
Bringing over two decades of global human resources leadership and organisational transformation expertise to the table, Thomas is poised to make a significant impact on Avaya’s culture. Her primary focus will be to oversee the evolution of Avaya’s global human resources organisation and cultural transformation. This part of her role forms a crucial element of Avaya’s ‘Destination Place to Work’ journey, a mission aimed at fostering a high-performance culture.
Moreover, Thomas will spearhead the company’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) initiatives. This includes leading the Avaya United employee resource group communities, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive work culture.
Alan Masarek, CEO of Avaya, is enthusiastic about Thomas joining the leadership. He said:
“Kamilah’s extensive experience in transforming organisations and building inclusive cultures is the right fit for Avaya. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing Avaya’s efforts as we accelerate the evolution of our workplace into a more dynamic environment where every employee can thrive.”
Thomas’s Notable Career
Prior to her appointment at Avaya, Thomas held notable roles at several major companies. She was the Senior Vice President of People and Workplace Experience at Roku, where she successfully grew the workforce by 56 percent. Earlier, she served as the Chief People Officer at Dow Jones & Company, playing a key role in the company’s digital transformation while supporting over 7,000 employees across 50 markets.
At A+E Networks, she was the Co-head of the People & Culture department, where she facilitated a CEO transition and led the transformation of HR for more than 2,000 employees.
In addition to her corporate roles, Thomas also serves on the Board of Directors for MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc., contributing to its Compensation & Corporate Governance and Nominating committees.
Final Thoughts
The appointment of Kamilah Thomas as CPO marks an exciting chapter in Avaya’s history. Her wealth of experience in human resources leadership and organisational transformation has the potential to significantly enhance the company’s culture. Thomas’s proven track record in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion will likely be a key asset as Avaya continues its mission to become a ‘Destination Place to Work’.
This strategic appointment underlines Avaya’s commitment to investing not just in its solutions, but also in its people. As the company moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Thomas leverages her experience to create a dynamic and inclusive environment at Avaya.
FAQ
Q: Who is Kamilah Thomas and what is her role at Avaya?
A: Kamilah Thomas is the Chief People Officer (CPO) at Avaya, responsible for overseeing the global human resources organisation and culture transformation.
Q: What experience does Kamilah Thomas bring to Avaya?
A: Kamilah Thomas brings more than 20 years of global human resources leadership and organisation transformation expertise to Avaya.
Q: Where is Kamilah Thomas based and who does she report to?
A: Kamilah Thomas is based in Avaya’s corporate headquarters office in Morristown, New Jersey, and reports directly to Avaya CEO Alan Masarek.
Q: What are some of Kamilah Thomas’ previous roles before joining Avaya?
A: Before joining Avaya, Kamilah Thomas held roles such as SVP, People and Workplace Experience at Roku, Chief People Officer at Dow Jones & Company and Co-head of the People & Culture department at A+E Networks.
Q: What is Kamilah Thomas’ focus at Avaya in terms of company culture?
A: Kamilah Thomas focuses on advancing Avaya’s culture transformation to create an equitable and inclusive work environment, including leading the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) efforts.
