Azets, the international outsourcing, compliance, and advisory group, has appointed Claire Jepras as its new Group Chief People Officer (CPO).

An experienced HR leader, Claire has 25 years’ experience in strategic generalist and specialist roles within complex, international organisations.

Claire joins Azets from Ipsos, the global market research firm, where she was CPO for the UK and Ireland, responsible for leading all people-related functions and delivering a range of people initiatives, with a focus on equity, inclusion and diversity, employee wellbeing, talent acquisition, and career development.

Claire previously held senior positions at Compass Group PLC and Carillion.

As Group CPO, Claire’s focus will be to lead the delivery of Azets’ people strategy, offering support and guidance to the senior leadership and regional management teams. Claire’s role includes leadership of all people functions and ownership of Azets’ Employer Value Proposition (EVP), to continuously develop and improve the culture for the Group’s 7,600 diverse international colleagues.

Claire Jepras, Group CPO at Azets, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Azets to lead its people functions into the next phase of growth. I am an employee-focused and commercial HR leader, and this is a wonderful opportunity to join a dynamic, forward-thinking company with ambitious plans for the future. I am committed to delivering a people agenda which supports our five-year Pathway strategy and ensures Azets is a great place to work, where people can be themselves and achieve their career ambitions.”

Chris Horne, Group Chief Executive Officer at Azets, commented: “Claire is a superb addition to our Group leadership team. She brings a wealth of experience that will ensure we deliver on our promise to continuously improve the lives of our people. We have now entered our next growth phase and Claire’s contribution will be critical to our continued success. I look forward to working with Claire to drive forward our people strategy.”

Claire takes over as Group CPO from Caroline Hutchins, as part of her planned exit after three-and-a-half years with Azets.

Chris added: “I want to thank Caroline for her outstanding contribution to Azets since joining the Group in 2019. During this time, Caroline has led a complex people transformation through a period of significant growth and helped shape our values and embed our culture throughout the business. We wish her well for the future.”

Azets appointed Roger Eigenheer as Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) in April 2023, following the appointments of Beth Crosier as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in February 2022 and Jeremy Fearnley as Group Head of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in January 2022.

Azets has grown significantly over the past six years to become one of the largest tech-enabled providers of professional advisory, financial and accounting services to SMEs globally.

In June 2023, Azets Group announced that PAI Partners, a pre-eminent private equity firm, has joined the business as a new investor alongside current owners Hg, to support its next phase of growth.

Azets is an international outsourcing, compliance, and advisory group. Our 7,600 smart talented people support 93,000 clients through our network of 189 offices in the Nordics, UK, and Ireland.

We provide trusted advice and personalised client services across accounting, tax, audit, advisory, people, and technology, saving companies and business owners precious time, so they can focus on achieving their ambitions.

We exist to improve the lives of our colleagues, clients, and communities, in a sustainable way. And everything we do is underpinned by our investments in people and technology.

Our proprietary digital workplace technology, Azets Cozone, is a unique cloud-based portal giving SMEs instant access to information about their business that simplifies workflows, increases operational productivity, and supports a more productive client relationship.

Blick Rothenberg, London’s award-winning international corporate and private tax and accounting brand, and Nordic-based companies Karabingruppen, Legeregnskap, Luotsi Isännöinti, and Idur are all a part of Azets.

Azets is a member of Allinial Global, the member-based association dedicated to the success of independent accounting and consulting firms.

Find out more at www.azets.com.

Shaun Staff, Group Head of External Communications

+44 (0)7515 789 306