LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Health and wellbeing company Humana has named Michelle O’Hara as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, effective January 1, 2025.

Stepping into the role with over two decades of experience in HR leadership, O’Hara will head Humana’s enterprise talent strategy and oversee programs for more than 63,000 employees across the company.

Humana’s legacy as employer of choice

O’Hara’s appointment signals a strategic focus on workforce transformation and building a diverse talent pipeline to support Humana’s mission.

The newly appointed CHRO, who previously held top HR roles in several Fortune 500 companies, will report directly to Humana’s president and CEO Jim Rechtin.

“I am pleased to welcome Michelle as our new Chief Human Resources Officer and look forward to working closely with her to ensure Humana remains a top employer of choice and a great place to work,” Rechtin said.

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The CEO said Humana’s people strategy is a “core capability” that supports and empowers its workforce in their goal of helping millions “achieve their best health”.

O’Hara’s appointment follows the announced retirement of Tim Huval, who will step down after serving the company for 12 years.

As O’Hara steps into her role at Humana, she aims to continue the company’s legacy as an employer of choice while strengthening its capabilities to adapt to future workforce demands.

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Impact and influence

During O’Hara’s tenure as Executive Vice President and CHRO at Science Applications International Corporation, she worked to enhance workplace culture, talent acquisition and retention rates, and diversity initiatives as the company navigated rapid growth.

Earlier this year, O’Hara received the Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business award, alongside other honourees who have had a positive impact in their organisations and communities.

“I am humbled to be included in this accomplished group of leaders. I have the privilege of working with and learning from many amazing ‘women who mean business’ at SAIC who inspire me each and every day,” O’Hara said at the time.

Her experience includes leadership positions at BearingPoint, Perot Systems Corporation, and Booz Allen Hamilton, where she redefined talent strategies to meet business needs.

Apart from her HR career, O’Hara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the College of William & Mary and serves on the boards of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation and the HR Policy Association.