Cox Louisiana human-resources executive Rhonda Taylor has been named the Cox Communications chief people officer, effective immediately, succeeding Mae Douglas, who announced her retirement recently.
Douglas is leaving at the end of the year and will assist in the transition. Taylor, who also has been named executive vice president, reports to Cox president Patrick Esser.
In her new role, Taylor will oversee talent development, labor relations, diversity initiatives, rewards and recognition, workforce analytics and human resource technology.
Taylor has served as the senior human resources executive in Cox's Louisiana system since 2008, where she planned, led and implemented numerous organizational changes and realignments including the consolidation of Cox Greater Louisiana and New Orleans systems. Under her leadership, the Cox Louisiana Diversity Council received the 2011 Human Resources Management Association Commitment to Diversity Award.
"Cox's success is dependent on acquiring, retaining, motivating and fully utilizing the brightest employees in the marketplace," Esser said in a release. "Our structure is shifting to support broader business transformation and Rhonda is well-qualified to equip our workforce to deliver outstanding results."
Prior to joining Cox, Taylor served for 21 years at Citigroup in various human resources leadership roles, including senior vice president of human resources in the company's Coppell, Texas office. She was also assistant director, human resources for ITT Commercial Finance Corp. in St. Louis, Mo.
Taylor holds a bachelor's degree from Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. She currently serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Junior Achievement organization and is active in the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and the Society of Human Resource Management. Taylor is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
