Kevin Bohan
CHRO
ProDriven Global Brands
Kevin Bohan is the CHRO of ProDriven Global Brands. With more than 5,000 employees on four continents, ProDriven owns a portfolio of notable brands dedicated to serving industrial, construction and automotive professionals.
A fun fact about Kevin is that he lived in London, United Kingdom for several years while working at Diageo.
Learn more about the Chicago CHRO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
Most of my career has been with large global organizations such as United Parcel Service, Diageo, PactivReynolds, and most recently as the CHRO for the Tier One automotive supplier UGN and currently for ProDriven Brands.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
One of my guiding leadership principles is ‘people-focused accountability.’ I believe in fostering a culture where people feel empowered to deliver results. By balancing trust and accountability, I aim to create the conditions where people can be at their best. A place where they can take ownership, grow from on the job challenges, and drive success for themselves and the organization.
What is the greatest challenge CHROs face today, and how are you addressing it?
The greatest challenge in my role as CHRO today is leadership and capability-building in a changing environment where both organizations’ and employees' needs have changed. Today, we need leaders who can adapt quickly and drive the organization forward amid an everchanging world.
To address this, I’m focusing on developing agile leaders through targeted coaching, continuous learning programs, and robust succession planning with feedback. By investing in capability-building initiatives and fostering a growth mindset across all levels, we’re equipping our people to lead with resilience and adapt effectively to change, ensuring the long-term success of both our talent and our business.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CHRO?
The key to success for a first-time CHRO is to build a deep understanding of the business and establish strong relationships at all levels. As a CHRO, you’re not just managing HR—you’re a strategic partner driving the company’s goals through its people. Start by listening to both employees and leadership to understand their needs and challenges, and prioritize building trust. Focus on aligning HR initiatives with the company’s vision and measurable outcomes, and be adaptable as you implement any changes. Listen to the people.
How do you measure success as a leader?
I measure success as a leader by the growth of my team and the alignment of our people strategy with business goals. If my team feels valued and empowered, and we’re achieving measurable business outcomes, I know I’m leading effectively.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
Being a community member provides me access to best practices from industry leaders, opportunities for collaboration with peers and visibility to what vendor-related solutions might be of value to my organization in overcoming HR challenges.
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