Wendell Sherrell

I build HR functions the way an operator builds a business: with a clear eye on the P&L, a bias for action, and zero patience for administrative HR that doesn't move the needle. For 18+ years, I have stood up standalone HR infrastructure inside carve-outs, stabilized executive ranks through relentless boardroom turbulence, and turned workforce strategy into one of the sharpest levers a company has for driving EBITDA. My specialty is the hard stuff. Carving an HR function out of a $60M+ global software business across 13 countries in under a year. Holding an organization together through three CEO changes in eighteen months while an activist investor circled. Walking into a labor court in Germany to protect employees through a respectful, compliant transition. I do not just administer change, I architect it, and I stay in the room until it is done right. What drives me is simple. People decisions are business decisions, and the best HR leaders treat them that way. I have helped organizations grow EBITDA from single digits to double digits, cut voluntary attrition by ten points, compress time to fill by more than a third, and design executive compensation and equity programs that keep leadership teams aligned and accountable through a hold period, a transaction, or a transformation. I advise CEOs, boards, and compensation committees with a global perspective earned across multiple markets, industries, and ownership structures, including private equity, public companies, and multinational carve-outs. I am energized by complexity: multi-country operations, compressed timelines, leadership churn, and the kind of change that makes most people nervous. I bring calm, rigor, and a genuine care for the people on the other side of every decision. If you are building, scaling, restructuring, or preparing for a transaction, and you need an HR leader who speaks the language of the business and the boardroom, let's connect. Top Skills: Executive Compensation Design | Carve Out & Stand Up HR Infrastructure | Workforce Optimization & Restructuring | Board & Compensation Committee Advisory | Global HR Operations