The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) today officially announced the appointment of Neil Carberry as its next Chief Executive. Carberry, a seasoned leader with extensive experience across the HR and employment landscape, is set to assume the pivotal role on September 28, 2026. This significant transition follows the earlier announcement in November 2025 that Peter Cheese, the incumbent Chief Executive who has helmed the organisation for a distinguished 14 years, will retire from his post on June 30, 2026. During the interim period between Cheese’s departure and Carberry’s arrival, Caroline Stockmann, a valued CIPD board member and treasurer, will serve as interim Chief Executive, ensuring a seamless leadership handover for the prestigious professional body.
A New Chapter for the CIPD: Navigating the Future of Work
The appointment of Neil Carberry comes at a critical juncture for the world of work. Rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, evolving global economic landscapes, and a heightened focus on employee wellbeing and ethical practices are reshaping how organisations operate and how people professionals contribute. The CIPD, as the professional body for HR and L&D, with a global community of over 160,000 members, plays an instrumental role in setting professional standards, driving thought leadership, and advocating for progressive work policies. Its Chief Executive position is therefore not merely an administrative role but a leadership beacon for the entire HR profession, influencing practice, policy, and public discourse on employment matters. The organisation’s mission to champion better work and working lives has never been more relevant, and Carberry’s mandate will be to steer the CIPD through this complex and dynamic environment, reinforcing its position as a leading authority and catalyst for positive change.
Neil Carberry: A Profile in Leadership and Influence
Neil Carberry brings a formidable track record and a deep understanding of labour markets and employment policy to his new role. Since 2018, he has served as the Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the professional body for the UK’s recruitment industry. During his tenure at the REC, Carberry championed the sector’s interests, advocating for fair recruitment practices, flexible labour markets, and the vital contribution of recruiters to the UK economy. He played a crucial role in representing the industry during periods of significant uncertainty, including Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, working closely with government and stakeholders to ensure the resilience and adaptability of the employment ecosystem. His leadership at the REC was marked by a commitment to raising professional standards, fostering innovation, and ensuring that the voice of the recruitment sector was heard at the highest levels of policy-making.
Prior to his leadership at the REC, Carberry spent a significant period at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), where he was instrumental in leading its work on labour market, skills, and employment relations. His experience at the CBI provided him with an invaluable perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing businesses across diverse sectors, and the critical role that effective people management plays in national productivity and competitiveness. With more than 25 years of experience spanning the breadth of the HR and employment field, Carberry possesses a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics that shape work.
Beyond his executive roles, Carberry has also held several influential public positions, demonstrating his commitment to broader economic and societal impact. He currently chairs the CBI’s Trade Association Council, a forum that brings together leaders of various industry bodies to discuss common challenges and opportunities. His previous engagements include serving on the Council of Acas, the advisory, conciliation and arbitration service, where he contributed to fostering good industrial relations and resolving workplace disputes. He also served as a member of the Low Pay Commission, an independent body that advises the government on the National Minimum Wage, offering expert insights into wage policies and their impact on workers and businesses. In recognition of his extensive contributions to business and the economy, Carberry was awarded an OBE in 2025, a testament to his dedication and leadership in shaping the UK’s employment landscape. His recent appointment to the advisory board of the government’s nascent Fair Work Agency as an employer member further underscores his commitment to advocating for equitable and productive working conditions across the country.
The End of an Era: Peter Cheese’s Enduring Legacy
Neil Carberry’s appointment signals a new chapter for the CIPD, but it also prompts reflection on the remarkable tenure of his predecessor, Peter Cheese. Having served as Chief Executive for 14 years, Cheese’s leadership has been transformative, firmly establishing the CIPD as a leading voice in the global HR community. Under his guidance, the organisation significantly enhanced its professional standards, developed robust qualification frameworks, and expanded its global reach, reinforcing its position as the professional body for HR and L&D globally.
Cheese spearheaded numerous initiatives that elevated the strategic importance of HR within organisations. He championed the concept of "good work" and advocated for HR professionals to play a central role in organisational performance, employee wellbeing, and ethical leadership. His tenure saw the CIPD produce extensive research and thought leadership on critical issues such as diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, digital transformation in HR, and the future skills agenda. He consistently articulated the value of people professionals as strategic partners in driving business success and societal progress. During periods of economic volatility and societal upheaval, such as the 2008 financial crisis recovery and the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheese provided steady leadership, offering guidance and support to HR professionals navigating complex operational and ethical dilemmas. His legacy is one of elevating the HR profession, deepening its impact, and ensuring the CIPD remains at the forefront of shaping better work and working lives. His retirement marks the conclusion of a highly impactful era, leaving a robust foundation upon which Carberry will build.
The Transformative Power of Technology: A New Strategic Imperative
Professor Chris Bones, Chair of the CIPD, articulated the strategic rationale behind Carberry’s appointment, explicitly linking it to the advent of a "new era of work." Bones emphasized the profound impact of technology, and particularly artificial intelligence (AI), stating that it is "driving the most significant transformation in work since the industrial age." This profound shift, he noted, "demands new thinking, new approaches and new leadership to improve organisational productivity and performance through better people management."
The integration of AI into HR processes, from recruitment and talent management to performance analytics and employee support, is rapidly changing the landscape. While AI offers immense potential for efficiency gains and data-driven insights, it also presents complex ethical considerations, questions around job displacement, and the imperative for continuous reskilling and upskilling of the workforce. The CIPD, under Carberry’s leadership, is expected to play a crucial role in guiding organisations and HR professionals through these challenges, helping them harness technology responsibly to create inclusive, productive, and humane workplaces. This involves developing new frameworks for ethical AI in HR, promoting digital literacy among HR professionals, and advocating for policies that support a just transition for workers impacted by automation. Carberry’s extensive background in labour market policy and his engagement with diverse business sectors position him uniquely to lead the CIPD in addressing these multifaceted challenges. His insight into the future of work, gleaned from years of observing and influencing employment trends, makes him an ideal candidate to steer the CIPD into its next chapter, ensuring its relevance and influence in an increasingly automated and interconnected world.
Carberry’s Vision: People, Productivity, and Performance in an Evolving Market
Reflecting on his upcoming role, Neil Carberry himself underscored the critical importance of people management in the contemporary economic landscape. He stated that many of the biggest challenges the UK faced ultimately came back to "people, productivity and performance," and emphasized that "these will only become more important as job markets evolve with new technology." This statement encapsulates his strategic focus: recognising the centrality of human capital in national prosperity and the imperative for organisations to adapt their people practices in response to technological disruption.
Under Carberry’s leadership, the CIPD is poised to further enhance its support for people professionals, empowering them to deliver tangible impact within their organisations. This will likely involve a renewed emphasis on practical guidance, professional development programmes tailored to future skills, and cutting-edge research that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of the HR community. He articulated a clear commitment to "building on its proud heritage and professional expertise," ensuring the CIPD continues to equip its members with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate complex workplace dynamics. His vision includes demonstrating "the vital role of effective people practice in driving growth and opportunity," reinforcing the strategic value of HR beyond mere administrative functions. This will involve advocating for policies that foster fair work, promote skills development, and encourage innovation in talent management, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and dynamic labour market.
Ensuring Continuity: The Interim Leadership of Caroline Stockmann
The transition period between Peter Cheese’s retirement and Neil Carberry’s arrival will be expertly managed by Caroline Stockmann, who will serve as interim Chief Executive. Stockmann is a highly respected member of the CIPD board and currently holds the position of treasurer, providing her with an intimate understanding of the organisation’s strategic direction and operational realities. Her extensive leadership experience includes a successful tenure as Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers until 2023. Furthermore, she has held a range of senior finance, commercial, and strategic roles across both not-for-profit and commercial organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Her broad experience across diverse organisational structures and geographies makes her exceptionally well-suited to provide stable and effective leadership during this important transitional phase, ensuring that the CIPD’s operations and strategic initiatives continue without interruption. Her appointment underscores the CIPD’s commitment to robust governance and seamless leadership succession.
Broader Implications and Industry Expectations
The appointment of Neil Carberry is expected to resonate widely across the HR profession, business community, and government circles. His deep roots in employer representation and labour market policy, combined with his recent engagement with the Fair Work Agency, suggest a CIPD that will be an even more forceful advocate for policies that balance employer needs with employee rights and wellbeing. The HR community will likely anticipate Carberry leveraging his extensive network to strengthen the CIPD’s influence on national debates concerning skills shortages, the impact of automation, flexible working models, and the evolving social contract between employers and employees.
The synergy between his previous role at the REC and his new position at the CIPD could foster greater collaboration across the entire talent ecosystem, from recruitment agencies to in-house HR departments. This integrated perspective could lead to more holistic solutions for talent attraction, development, and retention, addressing the pervasive skills gaps that continue to challenge the UK economy. For instance, data from the Office for National Statistics frequently highlights persistent skills mismatches in various sectors, an issue Carberry has consistently addressed in his previous capacities. Furthermore, with AI adoption in HR projected to grow significantly – some reports indicating a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20% in the coming years – the HR profession is looking to the CIPD for clear guidance, ethical frameworks, and practical tools. Carberry’s leadership is anticipated to provide just that, helping organisations navigate the complexities of AI integration while upholding human-centric values. This appointment signals a proactive stance by the CIPD to lead the conversation on the future of work, ensuring that people remain at the heart of organisational success and societal progress amidst unprecedented change.
