Specialty chemicals firm Albemarle Corporation, the world's largest provider of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, announced on January 11 the appointment of Melissa Anderson as Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer with immediate effect. She succeeds DeeAnne Marlow, who stepped down in December 2020.

Anderson is the current Chair of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional association. Prior to joining Albemarle, she was Executive Vice President, Administration and Chief Human Resources Officer at Duke Energy, and before that held the role of Senior Vice President, Human Resources, for Domtar Corporation. She also spent 17 years with IBM, with her final role being Vice President of Human Resources of Global Financing.

Welcoming her on board, Albemarle CEO Kent Masters said: "Melissa's strong experience in executing global human capital strategies that transform organizations will serve Albemarle well as we continue to build an agile workforce with world-class capabilities to drive long-term value for all Albemarle stakeholders.”

In her new role, Anderson's responsibilities will include leading the execution of the Human Resources strategic plan, partnering with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to establish and implement key HR initiatives, and achieving HR objectives and approaches with an emphasis on business partnerships, talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, inclusion and diversity programs, and HR operations.