Zellis announces appointment of new Chief People Officer 

Bristol, UK, 1st May 2025: Zellis, the leading provider of HR and payroll software to the UK and Ireland, today announces the appointment of Caroline Rowland as its new Chief People Officer (CPO). Caroline Rowland joins Zellis from Exscientia Ltd, a NASDAQ-listed AI-driven pharmatech company specialising in leveraging AI and embedded technologies across drug discovery and development. This appointment follows the news that Caroline Drake, Zellis’ outgoing Chief People Officer, will be stepping down in June after six and a half impactful years with the organisation.

John Petter, CEO at Zellis, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Caroline Rowland to Zellis. Her deep HR experience and passion for fostering strong organisational culture will be instrumental as we enter the next exciting chapter of our growth journey. We look forward to her contributions and leadership in further strengthening our talented team,”

Caroline Rowland brings extensive expertise in HR leadership, having served in key positions across diverse sectors, including her recent tenure at Exscientia and previous leadership roles at Arm Ltd, Diageo plc, and Deloitte. With a career spanning over 25 years, Caroline has a proven track record in driving organisational growth through innovative people strategies across global teams.

Caroline Rowland, CPO at Zellis, commented:

“I am delighted to join Zellis at this exciting time. The company is in high growth mode and I look forward to enabling sustained value creation for the business whilst delivering a differentiated employee experience aligned to the purpose of Zellis. The connection between purpose and employee experience is critical, along with fostering connections between colleagues, teams, to the work, our brands and the company. ”

To ensure a seamless transition, Caroline Rowland joined Zellis in April, working closely alongside Caroline Drake until her departure next month. Commenting on Caroline Drake’s departure, John Petter added, “Caroline Drake has been an invaluable leader and colleague. Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment have significantly influenced Zellis’ growth and cultural evolution. We are grateful for her many contributions and wish her every success in the future.”

Reflecting on her time at Zellis, Caroline Drake concluded:

“It has been an immense privilege to be part of Zellis’ transformation and to help shape a vibrant and values-driven culture. I leave with deep appreciation for my colleagues and pride in what we have achieved together. I look forward to following Zellis’ continued success.”