North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, September 2025 — Karen Taylor has started a new role as Chief People Officer at HECK!, bringing over two decades of experience in human resources and organizational leadership. In her new role, Karen will drive the company’s people strategy, strengthen organizational development, and foster a culture of engagement and excellence across the business.
Karen joins HECK! after a successful career at Amazon, where she held several senior leadership roles over a 12-year tenure. Most recently, she served as Global Human Resources Director, shaping HR strategy at a global scale. Earlier at Amazon, she was Director – EU Community Operations and HR Director, NA AMZL, where she spearheaded people initiatives across multiple geographies, ensuring alignment between talent strategy and business growth.
Before her time at Amazon, Karen served with North Yorkshire Police for over seven years, including as Director of Human Resources. In this role, she led workforce transformation, employee relations, and large-scale organizational change, following earlier responsibilities as Corporate HR Manager and People Partner.
Karen began her HR career at Wolseley UK, where she worked across HR advisory roles, laying the foundation for her expertise in logistics and corporate HR functions. Over the years, she has become recognised for her ability to balance strategic leadership with practical execution, driving results across complex organizational environments.
With her appointment at HECK!, Karen will focus on strengthening the company’s talent agenda, enhancing employee experience, and aligning people practices with the brand’s commitment to quality and innovation.
About HECK!
HECK! is an independent, family-run food brand known for its premium sausages, burgers, and meat-free products. Proudly based in North Yorkshire, HECK! is committed to doing things differently—making products in small batches for better flavour, using the finest ingredients, and delivering farmers’ market quality to supermarket shelves. As a challenger brand in the food sector, HECK! continues to innovate, offering a wide range of gluten-free, meat, and plant-based products to meet diverse consumer needs.
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