NetApp: Debra McCowan

Debra McCowan is SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for NetApp, responsible for developing the global HR strategy and leading the entirety of the function including talent acquisition, talent development and learning, business partnerships, organizational development and effectiveness, total rewards, diversity, inclusion and belonging and operations. Debra is a change and transformational HR leader with 20+ years of global experience focused on integrating the people strategy with the business strategy to effectively drive performance and growth and promote organizational health. Her success comes from her proven ability to build high performing teams and develop business aligned HR strategies and initiatives while providing strategic and operational leadership, typically in a context of rapid growth, change and maturation. In her last role as CHRO at Equinix, Debra built a robust global HR function in a fast-paced environment. During her five years with the company, the global HR organization was instrumental in evolving Equinix’s culture, building the company brand and designing and implementing leading-edge value driven programs and initiatives in support of business objectives and to ensure the attraction, retention and cultivation of critical talent enabling growth and helping position Equinix as a market leader. Prior to Equinix, Debra co-founded the Accelerance Group where as a partner, she provided organizational and systems design consulting services and helped clients lead strategic change more effectively. Debra has also held global executive leadership roles at Avago Technologies (now Broadcom Inc.), Hitachi Data Systems (now Hitachi Vantara), and Telstra Corporation Debra serves on the Board of Directors for HealthEquity, Inc., the largest health savings account non-bank custodian in the US. She holds a post-graduate diploma in Industrial Relations and HR Management from the University of Melbourne and a B.A. from La Trobe University.