Linda Gunther

*** ***** *****, *****, ** ***** Cell 408-***-****

Email: abg8e0@r.postjobfree.com

Positions Considered: Senior Director – Human Resources

Senior Director- Human Resources (Worldwide) – Dionex Corporation (recently acquired by Thermo

Fisher Scientific)

February 2007 – Present

Global leader for Human Resources worldwide for Life Science public company of 1650+ employees and approx. $460

million in revenue. Top leader of HR organization/function. Partner with CEO in all areas of executive compensation and

employee equity plans/corporate governance issues; presenting directly to Board of Directors.

Responsibilities and results include:

• Evolve HR into a “world class” organization; known for numerous best practices and innovative initiatives that

stimulate the organization (eg: Apprentice For A Month, Innovation Idol Competition, Leaders By Example and

more).

• Grow and develop the Human Resources of the company to meet and beat current/ projected regional and

corporate-wide business goals. Facilitate global HR initiatives in all regions: N.A., Europe and Asia.

• Dual Ladder Program design and implementation, partnering with CTO

• With CEO, present executive compensation issues/recommendations for quarterly Board of Directors

Compensation Committee meetings.

• Lead direct staff of 12-15 (consisting of all HR Functions) for global company

• Develop and implement “right fit” compelling Compensation and Benefits programs and processes

• Staffing Leadership – create concrete hiring metrics, track and drive excellence in interviewing and selection

processes; key positions comprehensive focus

• Lead Global Training and Development – “Worldwide Live and Learn” professional and management training;

needs assessment process and /training solution course identification. Design development planning process for all

employees, embedded in performance management process

• Facilitate and deliver Management Development Process for worldwide Talent Identification (Top Potentials,

High Potentials and Early Career Potentials); partner with executive staff on Succession Planning process

• Demonstrate excellence in facilitating resolution to challenging employee relations scenarios and handling of HR

legal issues; represent company on these matters

• Ensure Affirmative Action programs and Analysis; including strong Ethics program

• Design “best in class” Performance Management programs; embedding the key drivers for leaders to be

successful and effective; including global implementation of on-line performance management process

• Drive Employee Engagement Process with 76% employee response rate across the globe, including in- depth

focus group data collection and implementation of key actions as agreed and driven by executive management

• Provide candid Executive Coaching; match leaders to external “right fit” executive coaches,

• Engage executives in conducting Leaders By Example education sessions; partner with executives to create 2 hour

training/learning modules – “get to know the exec” and his/her expertise; including tips and insights learned along

the way. These sessions result in high employee/management participation and an overall change in company

culture; moving to a refreshed, vital learning and growth-oriented environment across the globe

• Design company wide Leadership Competency Framework, Dual Ladder and Customer Service framework for

development and assessment; design of 360 process for managers and executives

• Develop and communicate global HR strategy; getting buy in from CEO and Executive Staff

• Solve a variety of HR legal issues working with external employment law counsel and internal HR direct reports.

Director – Human Resources (Global Business Line and Chief Technical Org.); and Director -

Training/Organizational Development -Philips Semiconductors (now known as NXP

Semiconductors)

October 1998 – January 2007

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• From 2000- 2007, led HR function for global business line and CTO organization of 700+ employees in 7

countries (globally) including: compensation, hiring, employee relations, organizational development, training, leadership,

dev, employee engagement survey follow-up/action planning, succession planning, management development and

executive coaching. .

• Simultaneously, led the Training and Development function, servicing all N.A. Semiconductors which included:

leadership training, teambuilding, organizational design emp. development, Leaders By Example Executive program and

facilitate high potential/top potential development centers. Conducted forecasting process annually matching curriculum

offerings to business needs of the organization. Work strategically with executive management to plan their organizations

and solve large and small scale issues/problems.

• From 1998-2000, reporting to the Exec. Vice President of Customer Excellence and Human Resources, led both

the Training/Employee Development and Staffing functions for VLSI Technology; acquired by Philips in 2000. At

VLSI, developed and deployed global core management training and team development curriculum. Conducted

large scale change workshops for management groups and intact teams to develop concrete transition plans. Led

staffing function for VLSI with Mgr Staffing/ 6-8 recruiters as direct reports. Developed staffing processes and

use of metrics to measure recruiting and selection effectiveness. Working as core team member of merger

transition team, facilitated a smooth transition with Philips Semiconductors. Developed merger transition team

process. Introduced and implemented executive strategic succession planning process.

Vice President Human Resources

Meta Software/Avant! (Meta acquired by Avant!)

July 1995 - July 1997

Reporting to the CEO, as member of the executive staff at Meta Software, architected and led Human Resources function

for $40 million company of 150 employees which then merged with Avant! becoming a $180 million company. Also

reporting to CEO at Avant! - led Human Resources team to support @1000 employees worldwide with 8 direct reports plus

several contract recruiting staff for ramp-up; merging 4 small companies into Avant! Developed complete HR infrastructure

including processes and metrics; and a highly evolved management development process featuring a mini MBA approach

with top talent.

Results included:

• Developed and implemented an array of focused bonus programs including Key Contributor, Executive, Profit

Sharing and Spot Bonus plans.

• Developed Skills Profile tools used in all technical and non-technical departments to evaluate skills and

develop company-wide team and individual training plans. Implemented technical and management training

plan responding to skillgaps identified.

• Led recruiting effort which resulted in 53 hires for Meta and 180+ hires for Avant! since Nov 96 merger date;

included hiring exec levels (i.e. VP Engineering; VP Worldwide Sales).

• Partnered with Santa Clara University Business School to create mini MBA for Top Potentials/High Potentials

developing a modular program with executive management involvement.

• Facilitated strategic planning offsites for CEO and executive staff resulting in short and long term product

and organizational actions. Coached executive staff on a regular basis with goal of enhancing executive

performance; and implementing business focus and direction for IPO and merger.

• Led Human Resource effort for merging 4 companies to form Avant!; including benefits, compensation

practices, HR policies, training efforts, severance issues, hiring methods and cultures. Smooth transition

with open communications to all employees through merger newsletter and on line communications vehicle.

• Led process to propose and introduce Employee Child Care Center at new site in Fremont which is

providing service to over 70 children of employees and community.

• Developed Corporate Giving Program guidelines working with CEO and rolled out program.

Director - Worldwide Training, Organizational Development and HR Programs

Cadence Design Systems

May 1992 - July 1995

Developed Training and Leadership development function from the ground up for company of 2700+ employees resulting

in a cross company culture shift and a more capable leadership team.

• Established core management, leadership and team curriculum maps based on company-wide training needs

assessment.

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• Regularly facilitated Sr. Management teambuilding sessions focused on developing team vision, mission, charter,

values, goals and timelines for action.

• Developed and delivered Covey’s Seven Habits and core communications skills training including 360 degree

feedback to managers and execs partnering with CEO. Completed 100% managers worldwide.

• Conducted Organizational Skills Assessment with several business units to develop focused training programs to

meet business objectives.

• Designed and delivered 20+ worldwide training programs internally and partnering with external resources:

- Performance Mgmt. - Behavioral Interviewing - Organiz. Behavior

- Management Facilitation Skills - Effective Meetings - Coaching for Growth

- Mini MBA Mgrs/Sr Engrs. - Presentation Skills - Managing Diversity

- 5 Dimensional Leadership - Change Management - Other leadership courses

- Managing Within The Law - Sexual Harassment - Project Management

• Leading a cross functional taskteam, created a worldwide Employee Satisfaction Survey effort focused on

assessing culture, effectiveness of company processes, and communications across geographies

• Delivered Employee Team Development workshops in India, Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and Europe focused

on Continuous Quality Improvement and Team Effectiveness. Trained 25 managers to deliver core programs as

instructor/facilitators.

• Developed and rolled out company wide Performance Management/Evaluation and Focal Point Salary Review

Process worldwide.

Other Positions Held:

Pinnacles Human Resources Consulting

Principal Consultant

July 1997 - October 1998

Senior Manager - Human Resources

Sun Microsystems

May 1989 - May 1992

EDUCATION:

M.B.A. - Cum Laude - University of Phoenix

M.A. Counseling Psychology (completed coursework Columbia Grad and SJ State Univ.; thesis not complete (moved to

London, England) and completed two year postgrad certificate - Psychotherapy - London University)

B.A. Cum Laude - Psychology/Social Sciences - Queens College - City Univ. New York

Training/Facilitation Certifications:

• Bill Bridge’s Managing Organizational Change

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

• Personal Profile System (DISC) - Behavioral Style Assessment

• Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

• Achieve Global/Zenger-Miller’s Frontline Leadership, Group Action and Supervision Series

• Ridge Consulting People Skills For Managers Communications Program

• Crosby’s Quality Improvement Training Program

• Hay Coaching For Growth Certification

• FIRO B (Element B) Style Instrument

REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

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