John DiBenedetto (October 2006)
Then: Vice President, Talent Planning and Development, Wal-Mart Stores
Now: Chief People Officer, General Parts International Inc.
For John DiBenedetto, the chief learning officer role was a way forward in his plan to become the top executive in human resources. Driven by the reality of economics and the evolution of technology, DiBenedetto said it’s increasingly important for learning and development executives to move out of the specialized field and take on broader business-facing roles.
Quote: “You need to dip in and out of the discipline to really add value. I don’t prescribe a 30-year HR path for people. I just think that’s very limiting.”
