KPN Loses Chief People Officer to ING in Leadership Shake-Up
Event summary
- Hilde Garssen, KPN’s Chief People Officer and Board of Management member, will leave on September 1, 2026, to join ING as Chief HR Officer.
- Garssen joined KPN in December 2018 and has been instrumental in modernizing the company’s employment proposition and culture.
- KPN’s Supervisory Board Chair Gerard van de Aast acknowledged Garssen’s role in strengthening KPN’s employer appeal.
- Garssen cited KPN’s talent and dedication as a key highlight of her tenure.
The big picture
Hilde Garssen’s move from KPN to ING highlights the ongoing competition for top HR talent between telecommunications and financial services sectors. Her departure underscores the strategic importance of HR leadership in driving cultural transformation and employee engagement, particularly in industries undergoing significant digital and operational shifts. KPN’s ability to sustain its HR initiatives without Garssen will be a key indicator of its long-term stability.
What we're watching
- Talent Retention
- How KPN will address the leadership gap left by Garssen’s departure, particularly in maintaining its modernized employment proposition.
- Strategic Alignment
- Whether ING’s acquisition of Garssen will enhance its HR capabilities and support its broader strategic goals.
- Industry Trends
- The pace at which telecommunications companies are losing key HR leaders to financial institutions, signaling a potential shift in talent priorities.
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