Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Leigh Scott to the role of chief human resources officer (CHRO) and assistant vice-president, human resources (AVP HR), effective July 1, 2024.
The CHRO and AVP HR provides forward-looking, dynamic and collaborative leadership, guided by the principles of fairness and equity, in their oversight of multiple HR functions. They play an essential role in developing employee-centred strategies and practices that advance the University’s mission and the Division of Equity, People & Culture’s particular focus on organizational culture, including but not limited to principles outlined in York's Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Finding a leader who can provide strategic leadership, and who will be invested in organizational culture, was our top priority.
Leigh will be joining York from Grand River Hospital, where she was the interim vice-president of people(s), culture, and experience since May 2023. In that role, she provided strategic leadership and operational oversight for all core people functions at the hospital, including learning and organizational development, labour and employee relations, talent acquisition, total rewards, occupational health and safety, disability support services, employee health and wellness, as well as diversity, equity and belonging.
Prior to that role, Leigh was the director of team member acquisition and rewards at Grand River Hospital. She has extensive experience with community-based health care in organizational and system change leadership, performance measurement and improvement, leadership development and capacity building, and labour and employee relations.
Leigh holds a master's of leadership from Guelph University and an honours bachelor of business administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has also completed the University of Toronto’s Advanced Health Leadership Program and sponsored organizational participation in the Centre for Healthcare Quality Improvement’s Leadership for Performance Excellence program.
Leigh’s dedication to leadership, continuous improvement and fostering learning and innovation will be valuable tools as she collaborates with senior leaders to facilitate cultural and systemic transformation in HR through the development of strategies, services, systems, initiatives and operations.
Please join me in thanking Mary Catherine Masciangelo for her many contributions to York and wishing her a full and fulfilling retirement. Lauri Green, director of people planning, will serve as acting AVP HR for three weeks after Mary Catherine’s retirement on Friday, June 7, until Leigh joins us on Monday, July 1.
Please kindly join me in welcoming Leigh to her new role and to York. I am confident that with her expertise and integrity, she will play a key role in making York a place where all community members can thrive.
Looking forward,
Laina Y. Bay-Cheng
Interim Vice-President Equity, People & Culture