Meet Henny Penny’s New Chief People Officer

Suzanne Birsa is set to join foodservice equipment manufacturer Henny Penny as its chief people officer, effective Monday, June 14.

Birsa will be responsible for employee experience and culture, talent acquisition and retention, employee training and development, performance management, and compensation and benefits. She also will oversee the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being, and communications functions.

Birsa boasts over 25 years of HR experience, most recently serving as VP of HR at architectural lighting manufacturer Focal Point, where she built an HR function that transformed the company’s talent and performance management and benefits programs. She also introduced and led the company’s first diversity and inclusion strategy, including employee resource groups.

Birsa also has held roles at McDonald’s Corp., Johnson & Johnson, The Dial Corporation and ConAgra Foods.

“Suzanne is a dynamic leader whose passion for developing people and culture will enhance our own people-first culture,” said Rob Connelly, Henny Penny Chairman and CEO, in a press release. “As an employee-owned company, we are on a journey to become the best place to work, grow and thrive. Strategically elevating our focus on People First and well-being effectively prioritizes our continued commitment to building an engaged, healthy, inclusive, and high-performing culture. Suzanne’s proven success in creating impactful, people-focused strategies is vital to ensuring our employees and business thrive. She will be a terrific addition to the Henny Penny team.”

Birsa will become a member of the company’s executive leadership team and report to President Steve Maggard.