People operations
10 people analytics experts
These ten professionals have led people analytics functions inside companies, as their job titles show. A reader can learn how companies build people analytics teams and use workforce data in business decisions.
Professionals to explore
01—10Ashish Pant
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of People Analytics and Data · Novartis
Global Head of People Analytics and Data at Novartis since April 2019. The profile describes establishing the People Analytics and Data COE at Novartis from the ground up and building and leading a global team of people analytics and data professionals across 3 continents. Former Global Head- Strategy, Transformation and Technology, Talent Acquistion and Staffing at Novartis (2016–2019).
Blair Carlson
LinkedInExperience: Head of People Analytics · Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Head of People Analytics at Hewlett Packard Enterprise since May 2019. Former Director, Workforce Strategy & Planning (2014–2019), Senior HR Business Partner (2011–2014) and Workforce Planning and HR Strategy Manager (2010–2012) at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Manager at Deloitte (2006–2010).
Erzsébet Malzenicky
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of People Analytics and Insights · Experian
Global Head of People Analytics and Insights at Experian since May 2024, where the profile describes leading global people analytics, strategic workforce planning and employee listening to align talent strategies with organisational goals while democratising people data. Former Global Head of Strategic Workforce Planning at Experian (2022–2024) and Global Head of Strategic Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition at ING (2021–2022).
Kanwal Safdar
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, People Analytics · Microsoft
Former Senior Director, People Analytics at Microsoft (2020–2025) and Head of People Analytics at Microsoft since March 2026, with GM, Analytics Innovation at Microsoft also listed (2025–2026). The profile describes delivering role-aware people insights at scale, pairing agentic AI with governance and repeatable operating mechanisms. Former Director, People Analytics at Workday (2019–2020).
Kevin Stanek, Ph.D.
LinkedInExperience: Head of People Analytics · Gilead Sciences
Head of People Analytics at Gilead Sciences since November 2018. The profile describes leading a People Analytics organization accountable worldwide for data infrastructure such as a data lake and data products, the reporting and dashboard landscape, and a people science function. Former Senior Manager, HR Program Management and People Analytics at Gilead Sciences (2016–2018).
Marcus Persson
LinkedInExperience: Head of People Analytics Business Area Networks · Ericsson
Former Head of People Analytics Business Area Networks at Ericsson (2020–2025) and Head of Global People Analytics and AI at Ericsson since November 2025. The profile describes leading the People Analytics function and driving data-driven decision-making across the organization. Former Analytics Lead (2018–2020) and Senior Data Engineer (2018) at Klarna.
Quinn Knudsen
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, People Analytics · Mastercard
Former Vice President, People Analytics at Mastercard (2023–2026) and Head of People Analytics at The Clorox Company since July 2026. Former Head of People Analytics, Americas (2023) and Head of People Analytics, North America (2020–2023) at BASF. The profile describes leading people analytics operations and bringing insights to senior leadership across the employee lifecycle.
Roberto Amatucci
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of People Analytics and Workforce Planning · Barry Callebaut Group
Global Head of People Analytics and Workforce Planning at Barry Callebaut Group since April 2024, where the profile describes fostering a data culture in the HR function and supporting business and people strategy with workforce data-informed decisions and insights. Former Global Head of People Analytics and Digital HR (2020–2024) and People Analytics Manager (2017–2020) at SWAROVSKI.
Sebastian Szachnowski
LinkedInExperience: Head of People Analytics · Volvo Group
Head of People Analytics at Volvo Group since September 2023. Former Head of Digitalization, People Services (2021–2023), Director HRS Digitalization (2019–2021) and Project Manager (2016–2019) at Volvo Group. The profile describes working with HR and IT in a multinational business environment and building teams that contributed to digital transformation.
Ying Li
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of People Analytics, Sr. Director · PepsiCo
Global Head of People Analytics, Sr. Director at PepsiCo since November 2021. Former Manager of Data Science Team, Principal Data Scientist, CHQ Human Resources at IBM (2017–2021). Other listed roles at IBM include Principal Data Scientist, Global Business Services (2016–2017) and Research Staff Member (2003–2016).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's experience to your stage, since setting up a first people analytics team differs from running a mature function with its own data infrastructure and data science work. Ask how each person earned the trust of business leaders, because analytics that leaders ignore rarely change decisions.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What should a new people analytics team build first: clean data, standard reporting or deeper analysis?
- 02How do you decide which workforce questions are worth an analytics project?
- 03How do you handle privacy and trust when using employee data for analysis?
Reaching people analytics experts
How can I contact one of these people analytics experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Novartis, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Experian, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach people analytics experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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