London, UK | 26 February 2026 – Wilton & Bain, a global leader in executive search and interim leadership solutions, has announced the appointment of Donna Kennedy as its Fractional Chief People Officer. Kennedy will operate from the firm’s London headquarters and bring her extensive expertise to the organization’s strategic growth initiatives.
Donna Kennedy, a veteran in HR and talent development, has accumulated 17 years of board-level experience, collaborating closely with executive teams during critical periods of growth, transformation, and acquisition. Her specialization includes people strategy, performance transformation, post-merger integration, and leadership development. Kennedy’s career spans diverse industries, such as professional services, recruitment, technology, and regulated sectors.
Kennedy is the founder of Donna Kennedy HR and has chaired the HR and Talent Development Forum for APSCo, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies. Additionally, she holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma, and an EMCC accreditation at the Senior Practitioner level. She has also earned Executive and Systemic Team Coaching credentials from Henley Business School.
David Heron, Group Chief Executive Officer of Wilton & Bain, highlighted the strategic importance of Kennedy’s appointment, saying, "Donna’s appointment as Fractional CPO represents a significant investment in our firm and, most importantly, in our people. Our ambition is to be the destination of choice for the market’s leading Executive Search and Interim Management talent. To achieve this, we must align our people strategy with our growth objectives and ensure clarity around development, performance, and reward. Donna understands our sector and, crucially, our culture and what drives our success. I am very much looking forward to working with her as we take Wilton & Bain into its next phase of growth."
Sharing her excitement, Donna Kennedy commented, "Wilton & Bain has built an outstanding reputation in the executive search and interim leadership market. Joining as Fractional CPO at this stage of the firm’s growth is both exciting and meaningful. This is exactly the type of strategic partnership I established Donna Kennedy HR to support, working alongside ambitious leadership teams to strengthen the people infrastructure that underpins sustainable growth. I am passionate about creating environments where talented people understand what excellence looks like, see a clear pathway for development and feel genuinely invested in building long-term success. I look forward to partnering with David and the team to deliver on that ambition."
Wilton & Bain is renowned for delivering board, C-suite, and functional appointments across a range of industries, including professional and business services, technology, media, telecoms, financial services, energy, infrastructure, industrials, and retail. The firm blends the global reach of a larger organization with the personalized approach of a boutique company, supporting its clients in appointing transformative leaders who drive long-term value and success.