Freeths recruits chief people officer

Law firm Freeths has appointed Chris Oglethorpe chief people officer as part of its commitment to its people and culture strategy.

Oglethorpe will succeed HR director Carole Wigley, who is retiring after 25 years at the firm.

Working across the firm’s 13 UK offices, Oglethorpe will continue to elevate Freeths’ people-first approach, focusing on workplace culture, talent retention and development, as well as supporting the implementation and delivery of its operational strategy.

Through his leadership of the firm’s responsible business team, he will play a role in fostering an inclusive, high-performing environment, and work with national managing partner Karl Jansen on employee initiatives aimed at enhancing engagement and performance.

Joining from Gowling WLG, he has two decades of senior HR and operational leadership experience across the legal, financial services, telecoms and FMCG sectors. He has a track record in leading business transformation, navigating complex change programmes and applying data-driven insights.

Oglethorpe said: “I am excited to be stepping into my new role at Freeths at such a dynamic point in the business’s journey. The firm’s values-driven culture and clear commitment to its people are what attracted me to the role, and it’s clear to see that as a certified B corporation, Freeths is leading the way in using business as a force for good. I look forward to working with the HR team and the wider business support teams to drive engagement, performance and purpose.”

Jansen added: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to Freeths at a time of exceptional momentum and continued progress. His breadth of experience and seasoned insights will be instrumental in overseeing our firm’s HR functions, ensuring alignment with our financial and business strategy. With Freeths now more than 1,300 strong across 13 offices, Chris’s sector strengths and experience will help to drive forward our skills and capabilities, as an innovative, future-focused firm.”