Qlik has appointed Anna Sharkey as its new Chief People Officer, effective 30 November 2026. She will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Saugata Saha and join the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
Sharkey succeeds Ruthann Wry, who is stepping down after 12 years with Qlik. Wry will remain with the company until the end of 2026 to support the leadership transition.
The appointment places Sharkey in charge of Qlik’s global people strategy. Her responsibilities will cover human resources, talent development, recruitment, rewards and change management.
Anna Sharkey brings over 25 years of HR leadership experience
Sharkey brings more than 25 years of experience in human resources and organisational leadership. Her previous position was Chief People Officer at Capstone Investment Advisors.
She has also held senior HR positions at Blackstone, S&P Global, Barclays and Citi. Her experience covers several areas of people management, including:
- Talent acquisition and recruitment
- Succession planning
- Leadership and career development
- People management during mergers and acquisitions
Sharkey has lived and worked across Europe, Africa and North America. This has given her experience working across different markets and organisational environments.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science and Social Work from Lund University in Sweden. She also earned an MBA from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff, in the United Kingdom.
Qlik links people strategy with business growth
At Qlik, Sharkey will lead the global Culture & Talent organisation. Her remit covers the people functions that support how the company recruits, develops and retains its workforce.
The company said her focus will be to connect its growth priorities with its approach to hiring, employee development and leadership. The role also includes managing organisational change.
For Qlik, the appointment places responsibility for these areas within its executive leadership structure. Sharkey will work with the leadership team to connect workforce capabilities with the company’s business priorities.
Saugata Saha said the company’s growth depends on employees turning opportunities in data and artificial intelligence into results for customers.
He added that Sharkey understands the relationship between business strategy, workforce skills and leadership requirements. Her experience in organisational change was another factor highlighted by the CEO.
Sharkey outlines her priorities as Chief People Officer
Sharkey said successful organisations connect their people strategy and workplace culture directly with business outcomes.
She said she looks forward to working with Qlik’s team to strengthen this connection. Her stated priorities include developing leadership capabilities and building a culture that supports both employees and the business.
The appointment also follows a leadership transition in Qlik’s people function. Wry is stepping down after 12 years in the role, but will remain through December to support the handover.
Saha acknowledged Wry’s contribution to the company. He said she had built a strong Culture & Talent team and supported employees through organisational change.
He also thanked her for her leadership and support during the transition.
About Qlik
Qlik provides data integration, data quality, analytics and artificial intelligence solutions. Its offerings include data products, an analytics engine and AI agents.
The company helps organisations use data to support AI adoption while managing operational costs and risks. Qlik states that 75% of Fortune 500 companies use its solutions.
It also works with customers’ existing systems and technology partners, allowing organisations to maintain flexibility without vendor lock-in.
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