Ep140: Escaping the CEO Trap: Restoring Strategic HR Functionality

Sanjiv Anand, Chairman, Cedar Management Consulting InternationalIn this episode, I outline the critical HR priorities that I believe every CEO must personally lead. First, organisational structure must be aligned to strategy — it cannot be delegated blindly to HR. Structure is a strategic decision.On compensation, I emphasise the growing importance of performance-linked variable pay to meet market realities. I also discuss succession planning through what I call the “hit-by-the-bus list,” ensuring immediate backups for every critical role.Culture, in my view, is not defined by posters but by behaviour at the top. CEOs must model and reward what they expect. Finally, I highlight the importance of direct communication — particularly regular town halls — to build trust, alignment and leadership credibility across the organisation.