Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. has announced a major leadership transition at the top of its human resources organization, confirming that its Chief Human Resources Officer, Maryjo Charbonnier, will retire later this year after helping shape the company from its earliest days as a standalone business.
The New York-based enterprise technology services provider said Charbonnier will step down from her role on March 31, 2026, before remaining with the company as an Executive Advisor through the end of August. She will be succeeded by Mark Paulek, effective April 1.
The move marks the first major HR leadership change since Kyndryl’s formation and highlights the company’s focus on internal succession planning as it continues to reposition itself for growth in the AI-driven enterprise services market.
A defining leader since Kyndryl’s launch
Charbonnier has served as Kyndryl’s CHRO since the company’s inception, bringing nearly two decades of experience as a public-company HR leader into a business navigating life after separation from IBM.
Under her leadership, Kyndryl built its global people strategy from the ground up—developing hiring frameworks, large-scale upskilling programs, and a culture designed to attract and retain technology talent in more than 60 countries.
According to Chairman and CEO Martin Schroeter, Charbonnier played a central role in transforming Kyndryl into what he described as an “employer of choice.”
“Her leadership cultivated a highly engaged workforce, established a disciplined and scalable approach to upskilling, and helped Kyndryl earn more than 100 workplace awards worldwide,” Schroeter said.
He added that the foundation Charbonnier leaves behind will continue to support the company’s people, customers, and long-term growth strategy.
Internal successor reflects talent-first strategy
Paulek, who joined Kyndryl in 2022, has already been deeply involved in shaping the company’s human capital strategy. In his current role, he has led HR for Kyndryl’s commercial organization, supporting its transformation across countries, practices, consulting operations, and global delivery teams.
The company said his appointment reflects the depth of its leadership pipeline and a deliberate emphasis on developing future leaders internally rather than relying on external hires for critical roles.
Schroeter described Paulek as uniquely positioned to lead Kyndryl’s HR function at a time when competition for skilled technology talent is intensifying.
“With his deep understanding of Kyndryl’s business and strong track record of building and leading high-growth organizations, Mark is well positioned to advance our human capital strategy in the AI era,” Schroeter said.
Looking ahead
Charbonnier’s advisory role through August is expected to ensure a smooth handover, particularly as Kyndryl continues to scale its workforce and refine its talent strategy amid evolving customer demand.
Founded as an independent company in 2021, Kyndryl is now the world’s largest provider of IT infrastructure services, supporting complex systems used by thousands of organizations globally.
The leadership change takes effect at the start of the company’s new fiscal year, positioning Paulek to shape the next phase of Kyndryl’s workforce strategy as enterprise clients accelerate digital and AI-led transformations.
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