Atlas HXM, a global workforce platform built on compliance, has appointed John Fennelly as Chief Executive Officer. Fennelly, who has been a member of the Atlas HXM board since September 2025, brings over 30 years of experience leading global technology, information services, and human capital businesses. His appointment signals a new phase for the company as it seeks to meet the evolving demands of businesses operating across borders.
Fennelly joins Atlas HXM from Lionbridge, a pioneer in localization, games, and AI services, where he served as President and CEO since 2017. There, he led more than 7,000 employees and built innovative technology solutions while delivering consistent growth. Prior to Lionbridge, he was CEO of HireRight, a global HR technology leader serving over 40,000 customers, where he spearheaded a major transformation that produced record revenue and earnings growth. This track record of scaling global businesses and driving transformation positions him to lead Atlas HXM into its next chapter.
At Atlas HXM, Fennelly will champion the company’s vision for next-generation global workforce management solutions, helping customers scale their international operations with agility and ease. The company’s tech-enabled services help businesses decide how each worker should be engaged—as an employee through Employer of Record (EOR) or as a contractor through Agent of Record (AOR)—and then manage the entire lifecycle in one place. The Atlas HXM EOR service operates entities in more than 160 countries and is backed by over a decade of practitioner-led compliance expertise.
“Companies of all sizes are looking across the globe for the people that will help them innovate and grow,” said Fennelly. “Companies are no longer bound by where talent lives, but they need the right partner with the expertise to engage that talent responsibly and can get them up and running, regardless of their location. Our opportunity is to bring technology and human expertise together in a way that makes global workforce management dramatically simpler.” His comments underscore the growing need for compliant, scalable solutions as remote and distributed work becomes the norm.
The appointment is a natural extension of Atlas HXM’s “For People, By People” philosophy, which holds that technology should make global employment smarter while people remain at the heart of it. Bill Keenan, Chairman of the Board at Atlas HXM and Principal at Sixth Street Growth, commented, “Atlas HXM has built a differentiated position in global workforce management. John has a proven record of scaling global businesses, leading transformation and building winning cultures. Having worked alongside him on the board, we know his experience and vision align closely with where Atlas HXM is going next.”
Fennelly’s leadership arrives at a critical moment. As companies increasingly seek talent beyond their home markets, the complexity of compliance, payroll, and worker classification grows. Atlas HXM’s integrated platform—recognized as a category Leader by NelsonHall and Everest Group—addresses these challenges by combining direct EOR and AOR services with payroll and compliance capabilities. With Fennelly at the helm, the company is poised to help more businesses navigate the global talent landscape, making it easier to engage workers compliantly and efficiently. His deep experience in HR technology and global operations will be instrumental in driving innovation and expanding Atlas HXM’s reach, ultimately empowering organizations to build agile, worldwide teams.
