HR technology firm UKG has appointed Beth Conway as its new chief people officer, effective 24 March.

Conway will report directly to CEO Jennifer Morgan and will be instrumental in advancing UKG’s global growth strategy.

Conway’s mandate will encompass spearheading HR operations, including talent acquisition, employee relations, people operations, total rewards, and enhancing the company’s use of its own human capital management technology.

“Beth’s experience leading global teams through transformative growth, coupled with her track record of successfully aligning human resources practices with business goals, makes her a phenomenal addition to the UKG leadership team,” said Morgan.

“In addition, Beth’s passion for people will help UKG reach the next level by ensuring our human resource strategies and systems are agile, resilient, and supportive to the needs of both our employees and our customers around the world.”

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A people-first approach to global expansion

Conway has over 25 years of HR leadership experience, creating people-centric workplace cultures, UKG said.

Her career spans large-scale HR transformations, talent strategy development, and navigating mergers and acquisitions. She also brings significant expertise in environmental, social, and governance leadership, as well as investor and shareholder relations.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead an exceptional HR organisation at a company renowned for providing world-class HCM solutions and transformative workplace insights,” said Conway.

“UKG’s growth aspirations are both bold and attainable, and our ability to rapidly scale the business depends heavily on how we develop, support, and empower our people. I feel an incredible responsibility to ensure our global talent strategy facilitates this growth and creates a tremendous employee experience for our people so that they, in turn, can deliver exceptional outcomes for our 80,000 customers.”

Conway also expressed her excitement on LinkedIn, stating: “This opportunity represents so much of what I’m passionate about: driving transformative growth, aligning people strategies with business objectives, and fostering cultures where talent thrives.

UKG’s focus on innovation and deep commitment to making work a better experience for everyone are truly inspiring.”

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From hypergrowth to culture transformation

Before joining UKG, Conway served as executive vice president and chief people & places officer at Nuance Communications. During her tenure, she navigated the AI market leader through a period of rapid growth, culminating in its US$20 billion acquisition by Microsoft.

At Nuance, she led a global HR team across 25 countries, oversaw a culture transformation aligned with business goals, and drove the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. Her leadership contributed to Nuance becoming an award-winning employer of choice.

Conway’s earlier career includes nearly two decades at CA Technologies, where she designed data-driven talent strategies and championed organisational change. She led the implementation of people analytics, aligning talent with business priorities and enhancing employee and customer experiences. Her efforts played a pivotal role in establishing a more agile, performance-oriented culture.

A leader with a purpose-driven approach

Throughout her career, Conway has been recognised as a strategic partner to CEOs and boards, offering insights not only in traditional HR domains but also in ESG, operational governance, corporate communications, and shareholder relations.

Her leadership philosophy revolves around balancing progressive thinking with pragmatic decision-making, using data and employee insights to shape business outcomes.

“I holistically align HR strategy and priorities to achieve company objectives, reach business goals, and champion the importance of people-centricity to the bottom line,” said Conway. “Empathy, trust, and accountability are foundational leadership values for me.”

Conway also highlighted her dedication to ESG leadership, advocating for transparent reporting, strong governance, and inclusive workplace cultures.