Elizabeth Adefioye was named Emerson’s first chief people officer in August 2021. In this role, she leads a newly consolidated human resources function, including accountability for culture, employee experience, end-to-end talent management, diversity, equity and inclusion, acquisition integration, organization development and effectiveness, total rewards, and Digital HR. She will have full responsibility for ensuring the people and culture agenda supports the company’s ambitious business objectives. She is a member of Emerson’s Office of the Chief Executive, which helps develop and guide the company’s global business strategies.
Before joining Emerson, Adefioye was senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Ingredion. In this role, she led the company’s culture transformation and development of a new purpose statement and updated values. Prior to joining Ingredion in 2016, Adefioye held human resources leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, Novartis Consumer Health, Medtronic, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Adefioye is passionate about being involved in her industry. She is an ambassador for the Network of Executive Women, serves on the board of the Society for Human Resources Management, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago. Adefioye was named to the “2021 Elite 100 Extraordinary Black Women” changing the face of Corporate America for her role in leading complex transformations by addressing systemic racism in the workplace, building morale through innovative programs, and sustaining profitable bottom lines. She was recognized among the "2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise and was a 2018 recipient of the "Women Worth Watching Awards" by Profiles in Diversity Journal.
Adefioye has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Lagos State University, a postgraduate degree in human resources management from the University of Westminster in London, and a diploma in Building Leadership Capability and Leadership in Action from Glasgow Caledonian University. She has lived and worked throughout the United States, Asia and Europe.