Reinforcement of Zellis' Board as Three New Non-Executive Directors are Onboarded for Growth and Innovation in Primary Business Areas
In a strategic move to support its continued expansion and market leadership, the Zellis Group, a leading provider of HR, workforce management, pay and benefits software and services, has appointed Gary Heffernan, Carmel Galvin, and Christian Pedersen as Non-Executive Directors.
These appointments, announced in August 2025, underscore Zellis's commitment to investing in talent and position the company to leverage the expertise of its new directors to achieve its ambitions in the HR, payroll, and workforce management technology sectors.
Gary Heffernan, with over 30 years of experience in digital transformation, M&A, and business reinvention, brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. He is also the founder of Xcelerate, an advisory and investment platform focused on purpose-led growth.
Carmel Galvin, the Chief People Officer at marketing automation leader Klaviyo, brings over two decades of HR, executive, and consulting experience to the Zellis Group. She has held senior roles at global technology and fintech companies including Stripe, Autodesk, Glassdoor, and Deloitte, and specializes in organizational transformation, culture, and leadership.
Christian Pedersen, currently the Chief Product Officer at global enterprise software leader IFS, leads global R&D and product strategy. He also has executive product roles at SAP and Microsoft under his belt. Moreover, he leads Xcelerate, an advisory and investment platform focused on purpose-led growth.
Together, they bring over 75 years of global leadership, technology, and people-focused experience to the Zellis Group board. Each director brings a unique and valuable perspective that is expected to contribute significantly to the company's expansion and strategic direction.
John Petter, Group CEO at Zellis, is looking forward to working with the new directors. He emphasized that their appointments are to serve the evolving needs of Zellis' customers and represent a strategic move to support Zellis Group's continued expansion, product innovation, and market leadership.
In addition, Christian Pedersen has a world-class product strategy background, while Carmel Galvin has a proven track record in scaling technology businesses with a people-first approach.
These appointments mark a strategic step as Zellis continues to enhance leadership expertise and support growth. The appointments of Gary Heffernan, Carmel Galvin, and Christian Pedersen as Non-Executive Directors will provide independent oversight and valuable strategic insights without being involved in day-to-day operations.
Sources: [1] Zellis Group Press Release, August 2025. [2] Klaviyo Press Release, June 2025. [3] IFS Press Release, May 2025.
The appointments of Gary Heffernan, Carmel Galvin, and Christian Pedersen as Non-Executive Directors of Zellis Group aim to leverage their extensive experience in technology, finance, and business to propel the company forward in the HR, payroll, and workforce management sectors.
Gary Heffernan's background in digital transformation, M&A, and business reinvention, combined with his leadership at advisory and investment platform Xcelerate, will be instrumental in Zellis's strategic decision-making and innovation in technology.
