The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR and people development, has appointed Neil Carberry chief executive, effective from 28 September 2026.
Carberry will replace Peter Cheese, who will retire on 30 June after 14 years as chief executive. Caroline Stockmann, CIPD board member and treasurer, will support with the handover as interim chief executive officer (CEO) until Carberry takes over in September.
He joins after leading the Recruitment and Employment Confederation as chief executive since 2018, and leading the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) work on labour market, skills and employment relations issues from 2004.
Carberry is also chair of the CBI’s Trade Association Council and a member of the advisory board of the Fair Work Agency. He spent a decade as a member of the council of Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) and two terms as member of the Low Pay Commission.
Carberry said: “I’m excited about the ability the CIPD has to change economies for the better. All our major economic challenges of the past two decades come back to people, productivity and performance. That is only going to get more stark as job markets reshape around new technology. Resting on its proud history and professional specialism, the CIPD under my leadership will support people leaders to make visible differences to the organisations in which they work, demonstrating, once again, that effective people practice is at the heart of economic growth and opportunity.”
Professor Chris Bones, chair of the CIPD board, added: “I’m excited to begin working with Neil. He is a seasoned CEO with experience in the HR sector and the membership body industry. He has been working in public policy, has built relationships with scores of industry leaders, chief people officers, CEOs and public policy makers. With his expertise and interest in the future of work, Neil will be able to lead the CIPD through its next era, as [artificial intelligence] AI disrupts and replaces the traditional model of work.
“I’d like to thank Peter for his leadership and contribution. Peter has led the CIPD through a period of major growth and transformation, including expanding our international presence and supporting the profession through Covid-19.”
