Ayana Champagne is Corporate Vice President, Head of NAO People & Organization (P&O). She leads a dynamic team entrusted with cultivating an inclusive and purpose-driven culture guided by the Novo Nordisk Way, and shaping an employee experience where everyone can thrive. Since joining the company in May 2021, she has advanced key organizational strategies and programs focused on building fit-for-future people, culture, and capabilities, activating leadership and talent, and evolving the business to ensure readiness, scalability, and agility.

Ayana has nearly 30 years of experience leading global human resources functions in more than 20 countries within the healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, and technology industries. Her career has been shaped by her passion and success in advancing workplace cultures grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging and a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for underserved communities - one fueled by a personal connection to Sickle Cell Disease and an awareness of the great unmet needs that exist across rare diseases. Ayana currently serves as the Executive Sponsor for the NovoEqual (LGBTQ+ and allies) Employee Resource Group, is a recipient of Savoy Magazine’s 2024 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America Award, and was profiled in the Diversity Journal's Black Leaders Worth Watching Award.

She currently serves as Chair of the Novo Nordisk US Employers Board of Directors and was recently named 2024 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America by SAVOY. She has also been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Forbes, recognized as a 2023 Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Luminary and was a recipient of the OnCon Icon Top 100 HR Professional Awards in 2022 and 2023. Previously, she was named Human Resources Executive of the Year by The American Business Awards Association and Business Insider's Most Inspiring HR Leaders.

Prior to joining NNI, Ayana was Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, where she led the design and delivery of key programs centered around global HR optimization, corporate reputation, global total rewards, benefits and compensation, talent acquisition, and diversity & inclusion.

Ayana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Bradley University, and dual master’s degrees in Human Resources Management and Technology & Operations Management from Aurora University