Spotlight on Monica Anderton

Monica Anderton is the Chief Human Resources Officer for DS Smith North America, a market leader in sustainable packaging. With a career spanning multiple industries, she brings broad and strategic HR leadership experience across diverse business environments. Monica is highly involved in the Atlanta HR community and is dedicated to making a positive impact through community and engagement.

A fun fact about Monica, she is a first-generation American as both her parents immigrated from Germany.    

Learn more about the Atlanta CHRO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

My former company made the decision to relocate its headquarters to Chicago, and while I grew up there, I was not interested in relocating. As I worked to support several of my executives — who also chose not to move — by helping them find their next roles, a recruiting firm reached out to me regarding those leaders. During that conversation, they asked whether I was also open to new opportunities, and I said yes. In an unexpected turn, as the firm was interviewing my executives, they were interviewing me at the same time.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Trust and transparency form the foundation of strong business relationships and are central to creating a thriving culture.
 

What is the greatest challenge CHROs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Our company was recently acquired, and while we have extensive experience acquiring other organizations, this is our first time going through the process as an acquiree. As a result, we are prioritizing consistent, transparent communication and regular updates. We have also invested heavily in change management tools, including comprehensive change management training for our entire leadership team, to ensure they are well equipped to lead the organization through this transition.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CHRO?

You must have a deep understanding of the business, build strong internal relationships, and maintain a continuous focus on learning — both about your industry and your function. This includes knowing your business metrics, competitors, and customers to fully understand how the organization grows and generates profit. Equally important is understanding the culture and actively fostering the company’s values and vision so that the culture is reflected in everything you do.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

Success shows up in strong business results — market share growth, customer feedback, and profitability — and in building a high-performing team whose professionalism and service mindset earn credibility and influence.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

The opportunity to interact with such a premier group of HR colleagues, in addition to the program content, is outstanding. This community is made up of supportive peers who actively share best practices, encouragement, and collaboration, and the level of experience and leadership represented is truly incredible.
 

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.