Kerris Hougardy

As VP People Services for North America, Kerris provides senior HR leadership to support all business units across the US and Canada, approximately 7000+ professionals. She is responsible for leading the North American People Services team of more than 80 professionals, overseeing all aspects of talent management.  Prior to this, Kerris was the Director of Talent Acquisition for North America leading all Talent Acquisition activity for the region.  She coached, mentored and managed a high performing team of 18 Talent Acquisition specialists with a focus on strategic business partnerships, candidate experience excellence, employment brand championship, diversity & inclusion and continuous process improvement. 

Before joining Colliers in 2017, Kerris worked at Catalyst Paper and was HR business partner to all corporate staff and the executive leadership team in Canada and the USA, including the Distribution Centres, Finance, Sales & Marketing, Customer Solutions, Sourcing & Technical Services, HR and Corporate Services which involved regular visits to mill and manufacturing operations and offices in BC, Maine, Wisconsin and Ohio.  In addition she was responsible for leading a team of 3 talent acquisition specialists in recruiting and enabling the selection of operations, trades, technical, professional, managerial and executive talent across the company in both the US and Canada – approximately 2,600 permanent staff (80% hourly & unionised).

Kerris' career has spanned two continents.  Prior to relocating to Canada from the UK 9 years ago, she had a successful career in recruitment, working for a range of small boutique, large international, and self-owned search firms specialising in senior level executive search.