The Leadership Forum at Silver Bay: A Legacy Of Leadership

Thomas K. Kaney

For over thirty years, Tom has worked in business, academia, healthcare and management consulting in the strategic management of Human Resources and organizational change. Tom is currently managing partner of McKnight, Kaney LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in Strategy execution, change management and leadership development. He is co-author of the book Leading Strategy Execution

Prior to his current role, Tom was Sr. Vice President of Human Resources, Medarex, Inc, a biotechnology company located in Princeton, New Jersey. Prior to that, Tom was Sr. VP, Human Resources, N.America Pharmaceuticals for GlaxoSmithKline, a global Fortune 20 Pharmaceuticals company. In this position, he assisted GSK in development of organizational strategy and human resources systems and processes to sustain the company’s market leadership, total quality, and organizational change capabilities. One of his most significant roles was the development and mentoring of GSK’s leaders and key talent. He is highly regarded for his expertise in business strategy formulation and execution as well a Leader development and coaching.

Other experience includes Vice President and Director, Global Human Resources and Organization Development for SmithKline Beecham, PLC where he was responsible for leading SB's highly successful post-merger integration and global culture renewal, executive and organizational development and learning processes, as well as SB’s culture change and Total Quality Strategy. He also served a Vice President and Director, Human Resources, SmithKline & French Laboratories and Vice President, Human Resources, SK&F Global Research and Development.

Prior to joining GSK, Tom was Director of Human Resources Planning, Development and Compensation at Subaru of America and was a principal consultant with the Hay Group, specializing in merger strategy, HR strategic planning, performance management, leadership development and organizational effectiveness. Tom began his career in healthcare administration and on faculty at Hahnemann and Temple Universities.

Tom is a frequent lecturer and author on numerous topics in the fields of leadership, organizational change, and strategic human resources management. He is a member of the Human Resources Council of the Conference Board, former president of the Philadelphia Human Resources Planning Society, Philadelphia chapter, the Executive Advisory Committee for Executive Education at INSEAD University, Fontainebleau, France, Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, as well as several non-profit boards.

His noteworthy fields of expertise include:
- Aligning workforce/HR strategy to business strategy
- Talent management and leadership development/succession/coaching
- Culture change/change management
- Post-merger organizational and workforce integration
- HR function renewal/capabilities improvement

Tom holds a BA degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a Masters degree in Organizational Psychology from Antioch College. He resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania with his wife Robin, son, Kevin and daughter, Devan. His interests include skiing, cycling, fitness, motorcycling and guitar.