Human capital management (HCM) consultancy firm Smart WFM has unveiled its global expansion model – setting up Indian and US subsidiaries and embarking on a new era of global leadership. The firm has kickstarted its initiatives with the promotion of Rob Scott, from being Global Lead of Human Capital Management and Behavioural Technologist, to being Chief Operating Officer.

The expansion follows consistent year-over-year growth at the Australian company, which increased revenue with a CAGR of over 67 per cent and tripled its team and client base in just three years.  

“Smart WFM simply doesn’t have P&L growth restraints as other consultancies do – we’ve stayed nimble, grown through customer acquisition, bank factoring, and taking a balance sheet-first mindset which allows us to maintain our single ownership,” said Smart WFM founder Jarrod McGrath. 

He added how the approach allowed the company to retain its people-first strategy to consultancy, while delivering modern and sustainable operating models to clients. The company is also looking to digitally transform its working model, which will be centred around people innovation.

Scott will be tasked with building out Smart WFM’s ‘digital muscle’ to facilitate scalability and provide clients with digital-first services, to ensure their operating models remain productive and economically viable. 

Scott and McGrath also aim to build out a wider global leadership team over the next two to three years to become a global force in HCM and consulting.

The company will also introduce a skills development academy for its team, customers and partners focused on ‘maximising people value’, as outlined in McGrath’s book: The Digital Workforce 2nd Edition. The academy will focus on how people, technology and the operating environment can be harnessed to improve benefits from HCM projects within organisations while driving economic growth through people.

The expansion – along with Scott’s elevation and the launch of the skills academy – is expected to heighten Smart WFM’s focus on trust and transparency, people well-being, and building long-term engagement. New generations of staff will also be integrated into the fabric of the organisation. These are among the defining issues for CEOs in the next decade, according to McGrath.