Rent the Runway, the designer dress and accessory rentals company, announced that Ellen Shultz is joining as the company’s Chief People Officer and Larry Steinberg as the company’s Chief Technology Officer.

Shultz--who previously served as The New York Times’ most senior HR leader and member of the organization’s Executive Committee--will play a critical role in accelerating Rent the Runway’s continued transformation of consumer behavior change. She brings to Rent the Runway more than 20 years of experience pioneering people strategies and building diverse and inclusive organizations. Her start date is September 8, 2020.

“Ellen has a unique ability to create an inclusive, dynamic and people-centered culture across teams and has a proven track record developing strategies that deliver solutions to drive organizational excellence,” said Jennifer Hyman, Rent the Runway Co-Founder and CEO.  

Shultz has served as the Executive Vice President of Talent and Inclusion and a member of the Executive Committee at The New York Times since 2016. In this role, she has provided strategic guidance to the CEO and had operational oversight of the global HR function. She was responsible for attracting, retaining, compensating, motivating and developing a diverse global workforce during a period of rapid change. Shultz sits on the Board of Directors for the Emma Bowen Foundation, an organization helping to build a more diverse media industry.

Prior to the New York Times, from 2015-2016, Shultz served as Vice President and Head of Human Resources at Media General, a broadcast and digital conglomerate. She led all HR functions and was tasked with integrating the cultures of the legacy broadcasters and digital acquisitions that made up the company’s portfolio. Prior to that, Shultz worked for 15 years at Time Inc., joining as a manager in recruitment and serving in a number of successively senior roles in the HR department.