Seattle-based healthcare software giant Accolade recently appointed Kelsi McDonald Harris as their new chief people officer and senior vice president. McDonald Harris has been with the company since 2017 and previously served as vice president of strategy and planning. With a background that includes experience at Target, McDonald Harris will now oversee the employee experience for Accolade, which has over 2,400 employees, including 120 based in Seattle. She will be taking over from Jennifer Hanson, who is transitioning to an advisory role within the company.
Accolade, founded in 2007, offers healthcare delivery, navigation, and advocacy services through employers, and went public in 2020. Despite its recent public status, the company has seen a decline in its stock price by 20% over the past year. In response to financial challenges, Accolade had to undergo a round of layoffs a year ago. McDonald Harris’s appointment as chief people officer comes at a critical time for the company as they navigate challenges and seek to improve their overall employee experience and performance.
In other moves across the Pacific Northwest tech industry, there have been significant personnel changes. Leo Olebe, who was previously the global head of gaming at YouTube, has joined Microsoft as the vice president of global partnerships for Xbox. Prior to his role at YouTube, Olebe worked at Facebook as a global director in the games partnerships team. Additionally, Seattle-based pet insurance company Trupanion brought on Steve Ireland as their new senior vice president of conversion marketing, adding his expertise from roles at BluePearl and Pet Partners.
Pacvue, an e-commerce startup, also made a key hire by appointing Abi Harmon as their new executive vice president. Harmon, who is based in Seattle, has had previous leadership roles at Perpetua, as well as retail experience at Amazon and Target. Furthermore, Rad Power Bikes, a Seattle-based e-bike company, promoted Kelsey Wolf to director of public relations. Wolf, who joined the company in 2020, previously worked at Zillow Group, bringing her communications expertise to her new role.
Lastly, Sheilin Herrick, a Seattle marketing professional with experience at SHL and Karat, made a significant move by joining Amazon as a senior partner marketing manager for Amazon Shipping. These personnel changes within the tech industry in the Pacific Northwest signal a shift in leadership and strategy as companies seek to adapt to changing market conditions, growth opportunities, and the evolving needs of their employees and customers. As more companies like Accolade and Microsoft make strategic hires in key roles, the industry landscape continues to evolve.
