Gartner Analyst

Alexander Kirss

Director Analyst

Alexander Kirss helps CHROs and their teams develop and implement progressive, performance-oriented HR and enterprise talent strategies. As an analyst in Gartner's HR practice, he has driven Gartner’s research and led client engagement on AI-related disruptions to the HR labor market with a particular emphasis on the HR Business Partner (HRBP) role.

He previously led Gartner's CHRO effectiveness research team from 2022 - 2025. That team helped CHROs operate more effectively as strategic business leaders versus simply leading the HR function. He partnered with CHROs to identify key internal and external trends that affect employees, communicate their importance to the CEO, board of directors and other executive leaders, and adapt the organization's talent and business strategies. Mr. Kirss further specialized in helping organizations proactively plan for CEO and c-suite succession.

Mr. Kirss is also an expert in geopolitics, international security and political economy. He helps Gartner clients identify and respond to a variety of political and social trends and risks in a unified as opposed to ad hoc fashion.

Previous experience

Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Kirss worked in federal consulting. In this role he helped U.S. government clients identify and mitigate capability shortfalls across a number of operational areas in the defense and intelligence sectors. He holds a PhD in political science from George Washington University, where his research focused on how businesses can proactively identify and manage geopolitical risk.

Professional background

Booz Allen Hamilton, Senior Consultant, 5 years

MBO Partners, Independent Consultant, 2 years

Areas of coverage

  • Personal Leadership and Executive Partnership

Education

B.A., Political Science and Sociology, Williams College

M.A., International Relations, University of Chicago

Ph.D., Political Science, George Washington University

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Top Issues That I Help Clients Address

01

HR Strategy

02

Enterprise Talent Strategy

03

HRBP Transformation and Effectiveness

04

HR Labor Market Trends and Insights

05

Geopolitical Risk

Latest research and insights

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