GI Partners adds head of HR

GI Partners, the mid-market private equity firm, named Laila Tarraf as head of human resources.

In the newly created role, Tarraf will work with the firm and its portfolio companies in building recruitment strategies and recruiting portfolio company management teams.

Over recent years more GPs have added a “chief human resources officer” to their executive boardrooms. “The human resources function is increasingly evolving into a less process-focused but more strategic role for attracting, retaining, motivating and developing the very best talent available,” wrote in a recent pfm comment letter Pat Hedley, who leads General Atlantic’s human resources function.

Rick Magnuson, founder and executive managing director of GI Partners echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement that Tarraf’s “experience in building large teams will prove invaluable as our firm expands, and will assist in the growth of our investments by further enhancing the value of our human capital.”

Prior to joining GI, Tarraf worked with coffee retailer Peet’s Coffee & Tea as its first chief people officer and vice president of human resources. Previously, she served in human resources leadership roles at Walmart.com, Webvan, and Electronic Arts.

Menlo Park-headquartered GI has around $8.5 billion of capital under management in North America and Western Europe. The firm has invested $2.1 billion from its three existing private equity funds in 24 platform investments.