Gregory L. Whitson
Executive Advisor
Gregory L. Whitson is an accomplished international senior HR executive with a proven track record of leading transformational change and delivering strategic impact for large, complex organizations. With decades of experience across retail, consumer goods, and services sectors, Greg is known for his ability to partner with boards, CEOs, and senior leadership teams to drive innovative people strategies, cultural transformation, and operational excellence that fuel business performance.
As the Founder and Principal of HR Transformation Advisors, LLC, Greg helps organizations build and implement high-impact human capital strategies, offering deep expertise in HR transformation, leadership development, and change management. His recent work includes guiding the CHRO and leadership team of a $1.5B online retailer to develop a CEO- and Compensation Committee-approved people strategy.
Greg’s distinguished career includes senior HR leadership roles at Macy’s Inc., Coca-Cola Enterprises, The Home Depot, and Sears, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide HR transformations, led multi-billion-dollar organizational change initiatives, and built highly effective HR teams. He has successfully navigated complex M&A activities, built global HR service delivery models, and led the design and implementation of market-leading total rewards and talent strategies.
Greg is a trusted advisor, mentor, and thought leader, having guest lectured at Cornell and the University of South Carolina and consulted for global brands such as Mars, Heinz, Nationwide, and Estee Lauder.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina – Asheville.
