Organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry has appointed Michael Hyter as its chief diversity officer. He will report directly to Gary Burnison, Korn Ferry’s CEO, and will join the senior executive team.
Hyter has more than 25 year of experience advising senior leaders, with deep expertise in diversity and inclusion (D&I) consulting and leadership development.
He joined Korn Ferry in 2012, most recently leading the firm’s Washington, DC office. Hyter oversaw a $60 million operation with 120 team members, advising executives on HR areas including workforce performance and D&I. During the past eight years, Hyter played a key role in building the D&I practice at Korn Ferry. He also leads the firm’s internal D&I council.
Hyter joined Korn Ferry when D&I consulting firm Global Novations was acquired by the Los Angeles-headquartered company. He had previously spent 11 years at Global Novations, serving as president, managing partner, and board director. Hyter was responsible for global operations, P&L, and a $40 million business with 250 staff. He also oversaw M&A, performance management, budgeting, and competitor analysis.
Before that, he was a managing partner at J. Howard & Associates, a professional training and coaching firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Michigan State University.
Aside from consulting, Hyter is also a successful author. His most recent book is “The Power of Choice: Embracing Efficacy to Drive Your Career.” He is also co-author of “The Power of Inclusion: Unlock the Potential and Productivity of Your Workforce.”
“I’m thrilled Mike is assuming the role of Chief Diversity Officer. He is the right person, at the right time to further our embrace of diverse perspectives and backgrounds and drive meaningful change within Korn Ferry and with clients,” said Burnison.
Hyter recently joined with other Korn Ferry leaders on a series of virtual town halls and webinars with clients and staff on the issue of racial equality in the business world.
“I’m a true believer in the power of D&I and the impact it can have on a company’s culture, values, and growth,” said Hyter. “A critical factor to any company’s success is having a diverse mix of talent who can take on the challenges and opportunities they face now and in the future.”