Stephanie Neal has joined McGuireWoods as the firm’s chief human resources officer, bringing more than two decades of executive leadership experience in the professional services, healthcare and consulting sectors.
Neal will lead the development and execution of the firm’s strategy in the areas of talent management, diversity and inclusion, training and development, organizational and performance management, and compensation and benefits.
Neal joins McGuireWoods after serving as chief human resources officer at Cherry Bekaert, one of the nation’s largest accounting and advisory firms. In that role, she helped execute a number of strategic organizational changes to include acquisitions, expansion into new markets and business unit reorganizations. She also established Cherry Bekaert’s first strategic diversity and inclusion roadmap, which included hiring a dedicated diversity leader.
Neal previously spent six years at Hospital Corporation of America, leading HR operations for three Central Virginia hospitals and a four-state division of physician practices. Before that, she held executive roles at SESCO Management Consultants in Bristol, Tennessee, providing human resources solutions for clients nationwide.
“Stephanie has a wealth of experience devising and implementing client-focused HR solutions for large organizations,” said Richard Davis, McGuireWoods’ chief operating officer. “Her open and collaborative leadership style and commitment to diversity and inclusion align perfectly with our culture, and she will play an important role keeping McGuireWoods at the forefront of innovation in the legal industry.”
Neal earned her bachelor’s degree at Radford University and her MBA at Virginia Commonwealth University. She serves on the board of trustees of Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a retirement community in Richmond, Virginia.
“I am excited to join McGuireWoods and work with firm leaders, lawyers and professional staff to meet our business and work force needs and enhance our reputation for innovation and client service excellence,” Neal said.