Two Top-Tier Analysts Join Bersin & Associates, Deepen Firm's Expertise in HR and Talent Management Research

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Sep 29, 2011, 11:09 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bersin & Associates, the premier research and consulting firm empowering HR organizations to drive bottom-line impact, today announced that it is strengthening its analyst team with two prominent experts focused on HR Learning and Talent Management topics.

Dr. Katherine Jones, a veteran in enterprise workforce and talent management applications as well as a recognized expert in cloud computing, joins the firm as Principal Analyst and Director of Human Capital Management. Dr. Jones is based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, where Bersin & Associates global customers include Bechtel and Cisco. Dr. Brenda Kowske, an authority on conducting HR research and expert in human resource management and talent management, joins as Senior Analyst leading the HR Practice. Dr. Kowske is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bersin & Associates members in that metropolitan area include General Mills, Thomson Reuters Corp. and UnitedHealth Group.

"These top-notch analysts bring strategic HR and talent management research expertise and advisory skills to our members," said Josh Bersin, chief executive officer and president, Bersin & Associates. "Katherine Jones' impressive experience in HR, talent and technology-related topics and her proven ability to align research with client needs makes her a prized addition to our team. Brenda Kowske brings solid background leading significant HR research on leadership and management, performance and motivation, and engagement. As strategic HR and technologies continue to evolve rapidly, these experts provide the know-how to help our members in HR, talent and learning advance their strategies, processes and teams for optimal impact."

Dr. Jones focuses on research in a wide variety of HR, learning and talent management topics with specific expertise in the solution provider market. Before joining Bersin & Associates, she led Independent Consulting Services, providing marketing and research services to high technology companies. She remains on the board of directors for that company. Previously, she served as director of marketing for NetSuite, Inc. Before that, she was research director at Aberdeen Group for eight years, focusing on research and consulting services in HR, talent acquisition, workforce management, ERP and mid-market companies. At Aberdeen, she established the Human Capital Management practice. Dr. Jones also has served as an assistant dean for the School of Education, University of Connecticut, involved in academic administration, research and teaching. A member of the HRIS Advisory Institute Board and the HCI Research Advisory Board, Jones is a frequent contributor to forums on workforce management and talent acquisition. She holds a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cornell University.

Dr. Kowske is responsible for providing HR leaders and practitioners with the strategic core HR research and insights they need to succeed. She joins Bersin & Associates from Kenexa High Performance Institute, where she served as a research manager and as a consultant to both internal and external audiences on a wide variety of topics, including employee and survey research administration, performance management, and competency modeling. She managed the WorkTrends™ study from which she provided data to Kenexa consultants, their clients, and the media on a variety of HR-related topics, including corporate social responsibility, work/life balance and stress, leadership, and employee engagement. Previously, she was a research consultant at Personnel Decisions International. She holds a doctorate degree in Human Resource Development from University of Minnesota. An industry expert, she is quoted frequently in mainstream media including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post and Sunday Times. Her book, RESPECT: Delivering Results by Giving Employees What They Really Want, will be published in October.

Those interested in learning more about Bersin & Associates and its WhatWorks® membership may email [email protected] or call (510) 251-4400.

For media queries, email or call (510) 251-4406.

About Bersin & Associates

Bersin & Associates empowers HR and learning organizations to drive bottom-line impact through world-class research and consulting. The company's WhatWorks® membership gives human resources, learning, and talent acquisition professionals the information and tools they need to drive change in their organizations as strategic business partners.

Bersin & Associates members use our insights and tools to benchmark themselves against best practices, design and implement programs across the HR and learning spectrum and select and implement systems. More than 5,000 organizations worldwide, including more than half of the Fortune 100, use Bersin & Associates research and consulting to guide their learning, talent, and human resources strategies.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Katherine Jones

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=105155

Josh Bersin

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=82304

SOURCE Bersin & Associates