Kennametal Taps Wesco HR Executive as New CHRO Amid Leadership Transition
Event summary
- Amanda Cole appointed VP and CHRO of Kennametal effective July 21, 2026.
- Cole brings 20+ years of HR experience, most recently at Wesco International.
- Judith Bacchus retiring October 1, 2026 after 20 years at Kennametal.
- Cole will oversee global HR, corporate communications, and EHSQ functions.
The big picture
Kennametal's appointment of Amanda Cole as CHRO underscores a strategic shift in human resources leadership, emphasizing enterprise-wide transformation and talent strategy. The transition follows Judith Bacchus' two-decade tenure, highlighting the importance of seamless leadership handoffs in industrial technology firms. With $2 billion in revenues and operations across nearly 100 countries, Kennametal's move reflects broader industry trends toward leveraging HR for competitive advantage.
What we're watching
- Cultural Evolution
- How Cole's focus on continuous improvement will reshape Kennametal's culture and talent strategy.
- Operational Integration
- The pace at which Cole can integrate her cross-functional perspective into Kennametal's global operations.
- Performance Metrics
- Whether the leadership transition will impact Kennametal's ability to drive performance and capability building.