Paycom (NYSE: PAYC) is doubling down on automation and client experience with a leadership shake-up that puts technology and product strategy front and center. The Oklahoma City–based HR tech firm today announced that Shane Hadlock will take on an expanded role as both chief client officer and chief technology officer, while Rachael Gannon has been promoted to the newly created role of chief automation officer. Meanwhile, longtime executive Brad Smith shifts into a senior technical strategist position.
Automation Gets a Seat at the Table
The standout move here is Gannon’s promotion. Paycom’s decision to carve out a chief automation officer role speaks volumes about where the HR tech market is heading. With enterprise buyers demanding faster, leaner processes, automation has gone from a back-end feature to a core differentiator.
Gannon, who has been with Paycom since 2013, previously ran product and development. Now she’ll be responsible for pushing forward Paycom’s automation-first roadmap, working across teams to make sure the company’s HCM platform delivers maximum ROI with minimal bloat. It’s a savvy move—particularly at a time when HR leaders are under pressure to do more with less.
A CTO Who Also Wears the Client Hat
Meanwhile, Hadlock is consolidating two critical roles. Already serving as chief client officer, he’ll now also lead Paycom’s IT department as CTO. The unusual dual role emphasizes Paycom’s belief that client success and tech infrastructure aren’t separate conversations—a reminder that even the most advanced tools are useless without smooth delivery and support.
Hadlock brings over 30 years of experience, including nearly 14 at Paycom, where he’s overseen IT, security, and service. In a sector where client experience is increasingly tied to platform stickiness, his appointment signals Paycom’s intention to keep service tightly aligned with technology development.
From CIO to Strategist
Smith, who has been with Paycom since 2005 and spent the last seven years as CIO, is moving into a senior technical strategist role. It’s less about stepping back than it is about zooming out—focusing on long-term innovation and scalable solutions rather than day-to-day operations. Given Paycom’s ambitions to stay competitive against heavyweights like Workday, Oracle, and ADP, having a seasoned insider focused on strategy could prove critical.
Why This Matters
Paycom’s leadership shuffle highlights three key trends shaping HR tech right now:
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Automation as strategy, not feature. By elevating automation to the C-suite, Paycom is signaling its belief that efficiency is the new battleground in HCM software.
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Client experience + technology integration. The dual CCO/CTO role reflects the industry’s move toward merging client-facing services with core tech delivery.
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Strategic depth over operational sprawl. Moving Smith into a strategy role suggests Paycom wants to balance short-term execution with long-term innovation.
The timing is notable, too. With HR buyers bombarded by promises of AI-driven hiring, onboarding, and payroll solutions, Paycom is repositioning itself as the “most automated solution on the market”—a claim that will be tested as rivals roll out their own AI-heavy roadmaps.
Whether these leadership changes deliver tangible product innovation will determine how Paycom stacks up in an increasingly crowded HR software space. But one thing is clear: automation is no longer a side story—it’s the headline.
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