Makosi, a leading variable workforce provider, is proud to announce the appointment of Lindsay Gaal as its inaugural Chief People Officer (CPO), effective from Monday, 13 February 2023.
The new position has been created in response to the high priority Makosi invests in developing and maintaining both its people and culture.
An experienced C-suite level executive, Gaal previously worked for New York-based Friedman LLP, an accounting, tax, and business consulting firm, heading up Human Resources from 2016. Friedman was a frequent recipient of various ‘Best Place to Work’ awards. In 2022, the firm merged with Marcum LLP which established it as a top-12 accounting and advisory firm with approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. In addition to receiving these awards, Gaal has been cited in many publications and thought leadership for transforming culture and People functions in the accounting industry.
Gaal brings extensive experience in organizational scale-ups to Makosi, having supported Friedman scale from an $80 million to $200 million a year organization, employing more than 900 people including 100 partners. She was also instrumental in transitioning Friedman’s human resources practices to the new post-pandemic hybrid environment, including executing a multi-pronged approach to people engagement and advancement.
Makosi employs more than 1,500 accountants in 12 countries. Its employment proposition is a compelling one: the ability to work 100% remotely with international clients, gain international experience and exposure, flexible working hours, good career growth, and attractive remuneration benefits. The company has proved that a remote working model can work successfully – and without any loss of organizational culture – when it is implemented thoughtfully and intentionally.
It is this intentionality, combined with a unique and refreshing culture and a focus on treating people as unique individuals, that attracted her to Makosi, reveals Gaal. Based on the philosophy that happy people deliver the best results, Makosi’s culture is centred around what is in the best interest of each team member. Rather than a one-size-fits-all mentality, the company takes each individual’s aspirations and interests into account and prioritizes their development. Support is provided via mentors, professional and personal coaching, and frequent team chats during which everybody is given a voice.
Gaal says her intention at Makosi is to empower, engage, and enable the people function at Makosi, while at the same time ensuring that it ties back to the company’s core values, mission, and business objectives. “I’m looking forward to taking Makosi’s strong foundation and helping to develop it to the next level across teams and functions. I believe in the Makosi value proposition and core values and am excited to impact the people at Makosi.”
Makosi founder and CEO Darren Isaacs says, “This newly created position is a critical component of Makosi’s growth strategy. Lindsay’s experience, combined with her passion will be key to ensuring our culture continues to evolve and thrive.”
Gaal has a master's degree in Human Resources Management and PHR.
Married with two young daughters, she enjoys hiking and yoga and reveals that she lives by the mantra “the power in positivity” and reinforces that in every aspect of her personal and professional life.
