Apple's Carol Surface moves to HP as Chief People Officer

HP Inc as appointed Carol Surface as its new Chief People Officer, effective March 24. Surface joins HP from Apple, where she held the role of Chief People Officer. With her extensive background in human resources leadership, including positions as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Medtronic, Best Buy, and senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, she brings a wealth of experience to the company.

Surface will succeed Kristen Ludgate, who is retiring after four years leading HP’s People Organization. Surface’s appointment comes at a time when HP is focused on shaping the Future of Work, with a strong emphasis on culture and talent development. HP’s CEO, Enrique Lores, highlighted Surface's experience in building high-performance teams and leading organizational transformations as key factors in her selection.

Surface’s appointment marks a significant leadership change for HP, and she is expected to contribute to the company’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and foster a collaborative, innovative culture. She holds a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from Central Michigan University and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources, bringing a strong academic background to her leadership role.

At Apple, where Surface worked as the Chief People Officer for less than two years, she played a pivotal role in leading the company’s human resources, diversity, inclusion, and recruitment strategies. Her appointment at Apple came in early 2023, when she took over a newly created position responsible for managing HR and fostering a culture that aligned with Apple’s values and growth ambitions. Surface succeeded Deirdre O’Brien, who had previously managed both human resources and retail divisions at Apple. With Surface’s departure, O’Brien will resume her previous role overseeing HR at the company.

Surface’s departure from Apple is part of a broader leadership shake-up at the tech giant. Apple is undergoing several executive transitions, including the retirement of longtime engineering leader Dan Riccio and the departure of other senior leaders such as procurement head Dan Rosckes and App Store head Matt Fischer. Apple is also experiencing changes in its diversity and inclusion leadership, with Cynthia Bowman taking over as head of diversity and inclusion earlier this year.

While Surface’s time at Apple was brief, her efforts to modernize HR practices and promote a culture of inclusion were key aspects of her work there. Despite her departure, Apple remains committed to continuing its focus on workforce engagement and employee well-being.

For HP, Surface’s arrival represents a new chapter in the company’s journey to refine its HR strategies and foster an environment that supports the future of work. With her vast experience leading HR transformations in global organizations, she is well-positioned to help HP enhance its people and culture strategies as the company faces the challenges of an increasingly competitive talent market.

As Surface takes the helm at HP, the company’s stakeholders will be watching closely to see how her leadership will shape the future of work and contribute to HP’s broader strategic objectives in the coming years.