Pearson announced last week that Ali Bebo has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer, taking over from Anna Vikstrom Persson who stepped down in November. Bebo is Pearson's third CHRO since the position was created in 2013.

She joins Pearson from medical technology company Hologic, where she served as Global Head of Human Resources. Bebo's tenure at Hologic was notable for increasing employee engagement by over three times and introducing diversity into the executive leadership team, going from zero women or ethnically diverse leaders in 2013 to one-third women and diverse leaders in 2021.

Andy Bird, CEO of Pearson, highlighted Bebo's experience with engagement and diversity in welcoming her. He said: “Ali brings a commercial mindset and a deep understanding of the connection between talent and business growth. It’s vital we build an agile, innovative workforce to deliver engaging, high quality learning experiences for all. Ali has the consumer experience, along with the energy and creativity, to lead that effort for Pearson.”

Prior to Hologic, Bebo headed talent resources and talent management for US retail and apparel company ANN INC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.