Atlas HXM, the global workforce platform built on compliance, has named John Fennelly as its new Chief Executive Officer. Fennelly, who has been a member of the Atlas HXM board since September 2025, brings over three decades of experience in leading global technology, information services, and human capital businesses. His appointment is a clear signal that the company intends to accelerate its mission to simplify how businesses engage and manage talent across borders.
Fennelly joins Atlas HXM from Lionbridge, a pioneer in localization, games, and AI services, where he served as President and CEO since 2017. There, he led more than 7,000 employees and built innovative technology solutions while delivering consistent growth. Before Lionbridge, he was CEO of HireRight, a global HR technology leader serving over 40,000 customers. At HireRight, Fennelly spearheaded a major transformation that produced record revenue and earnings growth. This track record of scaling global operations and driving cultural change is precisely what Atlas HXM hopes to leverage as it charts its next chapter.
At Atlas HXM, Fennelly will lead the company's vision for the next generation of global workforce management solutions. The company helps businesses decide how each worker should be engaged—as an employee through Employer of Record (EOR) or as a contractor through Agent of Record (AOR)—and then manages the entire lifecycle in one place. Its EOR service operates entities in more than 160 countries and is backed by more than a decade of practitioner-led compliance expertise. By bringing in a leader with deep experience in both technology and human capital, Atlas HXM is positioning itself to meet the growing demand for agile, compliant global employment solutions.
"Companies of all sizes are looking across the globe for the people that will help them innovate and grow," Fennelly said. "Companies are no longer bound by where talent lives, but they need the right partner with the expertise to engage that talent responsibly and can get them up and running, regardless of their location. Our opportunity is to bring technology and human expertise together in a way that makes global workforce management dramatically simpler." This philosophy aligns with Atlas HXM's long-standing "For People, By People" principle, which emphasizes that technology should make global employment smarter while keeping people at the heart of it.
Bill Keenan, Chairman of the Board at Atlas HXM and Principal at Sixth Street Growth, expressed confidence in the appointment: "Atlas HXM has built a differentiated position in global workforce management. John has a proven record of scaling global businesses, leading transformation and building winning cultures. Having worked alongside him on the board, we know his experience and vision align closely with where Atlas HXM is going next."
The leadership change comes at a pivotal time for the global workforce management industry. As companies increasingly seek to tap into talent pools worldwide, the complexity of compliance, payroll, and worker classification continues to grow. Atlas HXM, recognized as a category Leader by NelsonHall and Everest Group, is betting that Fennelly's experience will help it capitalize on this trend. By combining its technology platform with deep human expertise, the company aims to make it easier for businesses to scale globally with agility and ease. Fennelly's appointment underscores the importance of experienced leadership in navigating the evolving landscape of global employment, and it positions Atlas HXM to further differentiate itself in a crowded market.
