Circana LLC has named Hélène Bouffard as its chief people officer, placing her in charge of the company’s global people strategy as the Chicago-based data and technology firm expands its use of artificial intelligence.
Bouffard joins Circana from Amazon.com, where she most recently served as director of human resources and artificial general intelligence (AGI). She spent 17 years at the company in total.
“I’m excited to join Circana at such a defining moment,” Bouffard said.
“The organizations that will thrive in the coming years are those that integrate people strategy directly into their AI and business transformation agendas. Circana has bold ambitions, and I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to further build the talent, skills, and culture that will fuel sustained growth.”
Amazon background
At Amazon, Bouffard held roles supporting some of the company’s largest consumer technology divisions. As director of human resources for devices and services, she supported the global teams behind Alexa, Kindle, Echo, and Ring.
In that role, she led work on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and human resources infrastructure in fast-growing, technology-driven business units. Circana says she brings more than 25 years of human resources leadership experience to her new position.
Priorities at Circana
In her new role, Bouffard will oversee global human resources operations and work to align roles, skills, and workforce design with the company’s AI-focused strategy. Her responsibilities include talent development, organizational design, and cultural change as the company increases its use of advanced technology.
Stuart Aitken, president and chief executive officer of Circana, said the appointment reflects the company’s direction.
“Hélène knows how to build the culture, leadership strength, and operating rhythms required for AI-enabled organizations. She understands how to help large global teams evolve their capabilities, and I am confident she will play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of work at Circana.”
Circana provides data, technology, and AI services to consumer packaged goods companies, manufacturers, and retailers.
