Kirsten Schuermann

„I am honored and pleased to offer a formal recommendation for Kirsten Schuermann. I have known Kirsten since 2005 when I transferred her from her ARAMARK Uniform Services role to work for me as Senior Human Resources Manager for our International Business. Kirsten worked both directly and later functionally for me between June 2005 and June 2011. Kirsten is an intelligent, hardworking and dedicated to the Human Resource function and brings a true international perspective to her work. Kirsten has advanced her career in Aramark quite quickly since joining ARAMARK as a Management Trainee in Operations in the Uniforms division of ARAMARK at the US West Coast. Her move into Human Resources came in 2005 but while at Uniform Services she was also engaged in activities related to recruiting and training which gave her a solid foundation of experience. Kirsten worked as Senior Human Resources Manager, reporting to me and based in the Philadelphia. During this eighteen month assignment she became my right hand support for establishing our global HR team, processes and strategy. She grew quickly to the extent that I was confident to promote her to the role of supporting the critical 2008 Beijing Olympic project. This was in a sense throwing her in the deep end of a highly complex project that required the mobilization of over 250 expats and 7000 Chinese locals for a 3 month project. The HR complexity and sense of urgency required to successfully execute again enabled Kirsten to grow as she stepped up to the challenge and did an excellent job. Her success at the Beijing Olympics let to the opportunity to remain in China and take over the HR leadership for ARAMARK’s China business which was over $US 100 million with over 16,000 employees including approximately 10 expats. Again, the China business was complex from a HR standpoint, supporting over 20% compounded annual revenue growth in a service business requires an intense focus on staffing and training. The HR function in China did not have a strong reputation prior to Kirsten’s arrival and Kirsten was able to raise the performance bar through her dedication, hard work and a focus on strengthening the talent in her team. Kirsten was also instrumental in helping with the onboarding of a new China President and was able to be an advisor to him and a sounding board for the China management team on all people related issues.“