- Gary Heffernan, Carmel Galvin, and Christian Pedersen join the Zellis Board as Non-Executive Directors
- Together, they bring over 75 years of global leadership, technology, and people-focused experience
- The appointments mark a strategic step as Zellis continues to enhance leadership expertise and support growth
Zellis Group, the leading provider of HR, workforce management, pay and benefits software and services to the UK and Ireland, and for benefits globally, has announced that Gary Heffernan, Carmel Galvin, and Christian Pedersen have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors to its Board to drive further growth across the region.
These key appointments represent a strategic move to support Zellis Group’s continued expansion, product innovation, and market leadership as the business scales across its core markets.
John Petter, Group CEO at Zellis, said: “We look forward to working with Gary, Carmel, and Christian on the Zellis Group board. Each brings a unique and valuable perspective: Gary’s transformational leadership and deep industry experience, Carmel’s people-first approach and proven track record in scaling technology businesses, and Christian’s world-class product strategy background.
Collectively, they bring a significant depth of experience in AI, which will help us accelerate the success we are already seeing with our customers. Their perspectives and strategic guidance will be invaluable as we drive the next chapter of growth for the Zellis Group, with a clear focus on international expansion and delivering value to our global customer base.”
As a seasoned global advisor and former Senior Managing Director at Accenture, Gary Heffernan brings over 30 years of experience in digital transformation, M&A, and business reinvention. He currently leads Xcelerate, an advisory and investment platform focused on purpose-led growth, and serves on multiple boards in the technology, data, and social impact sectors.
Gary Heffernan, Founder of Xcelerate said: “I’m excited to join Zellis Group at such a pivotal time. The company’s values-led mission and commitment to customer outcomes truly resonate with me. I look forward to supporting the team as they shape the future of work across the UK and Ireland.”
Carmel Galvin, currently Chief People Officer at marketing automation leader Klaviyo, brings over two decades of HR, executive, and consulting experience. She has held senior roles at global technology and fintech companies including Stripe, Autodesk, Glassdoor, and Deloitte, where she specialised in organisational transformation, culture, and leadership.
Carmel Galvin, Chief People Officer, Klaviyo said: “Zellis is leading the way in HR technology. I’m eager to bring my experience to the table and contribute to building people-centred solutions that drive lasting business success.”
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer at global enterprise software leader IFS, leads global R&D and product strategy. He has held executive product roles at SAP and Microsoft, where he delivered scalable innovation and customer-centric transformation in complex enterprise environments.
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, IFS said: “I’m honoured to be joining the Zellis Board. The company is at the forefront of HR and payroll tech, and I’m excited to work with the leadership team to help drive innovation, product excellence, and customer value - areas I am passionate about through my experience in enterprise software.”
These appointments underscore Zellis’ continued commitment to investing in both technology and talent to serve the evolving needs of its customers.
