William S. Allen is a seasoned global business leader and advisor with deep expertise in human resources, talent strategy, and organizational transformation. His career spans Fortune 500 companies, private equity, and nonprofits in the U.S. and Europe. He has held senior leadership roles, including Chief Human Resources Officer at A.P. Moller-Maersk and Macy’s Inc., and currently serves as a Senior Partner at CEO. Works, an advisory firm focused on aligning talent with value creation. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Auburn University and a master’s degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of North Texas. 

Bill is also a dedicated nonprofit leader with a strong record of board service. His roles have included Vice Chair of the Health Transformation Alliance, founding Chair of the Consortium for Global Talent, and board memberships with the National Academy of Human Resources, the American Heart Association CEO Roundtable, and the Auburn University Harbert College of Business. He currently serves on the Bethel Regional Airport Authority Board and the Advisory Board for Live + Work in Maine. He is known for bringing strategic clarity and sustainable impact to mission-driven organizations. 

Based in Bethel, Maine, Bill and his wife Beth enjoy the outdoors and support local community initiatives. His family has had a presence in Western Maine and New Hampshire since the early 1900s, deepening his connection to the region. With experience living and working in three countries, Bill brings a global perspective to his passion for strengthening rural economies and communities like those supported by the Northern Forest Center.