Azurée Montoute-Lewis, Global Chief People Officer of Burson, is an accomplished human resources executive with demonstrated expertise in talent acquisition and management; learning and development; diversity, equity, and inclusion; rewards and recognition; and people operations and systems. Prior to Burson, Azurée served as Hill & Knowlton’s Global Chief People OHicer, where she drew on almost two decades of experience in human resources, organizational development and marketing.

Azurée has dedicated her career to creating high-performing, creative and innovative, and trusted and psychologically safe work environments with equal opportunities for all employees. She is a sought-after speaker at conferences and events on inclusion-related topics.

As Global Director of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion for Fitch Group, Azurée designed and implemented the organization’s first diversity and inclusion strategy which included the ForwardPath Women’s Leadership Development Program and the “All of Us” global inclusion training module. Azurée spent over nine years as a Vice President in Citigroup’s Global Diversity and Talent Management department where she led teams responsible for succession planning, talent reviews, executive assessments, coaching/development, employee networking and flexible work initiatives. Azurée’s resume also includes positions within the marketing departments of Dun & Bradstreet and J.P. Morgan Chase.

Azurée earned her BA in political science, sociology and physics from the University of Richmond as a part of the Cigna Honors Program. She holds an MBA in marketing, management and leadership from the Stern School of Business and a Masters in organizational development and talent management at NYU.

Azurée actively participates in multiple professional organizations which align with her passion for community service and eHorts to empower underserved and underrepresented communities. She has been a member of the National Black MBA Association, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Organization Development Network, New York Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Brooklyn Chapter of Jack and Jill, Incorporated. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, incorporated for over twenty years, and is invested in her graduate chapter of Delta Rho Omega in Brooklyn, NY.