Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo, London: Day 2 Highlights

LONDON, U.K., October 7, 2026

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Overview

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo taking place today through tomorrow, Thursday, October 8 in London, U.K. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. You can read the highlights from Day 1 here.

On Day 2 from the conference, we are highlighting the future of integrated talent management, tackling AI work friction, and the candidate market. 

Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

Key Announcements

The Future of Integrated Talent Management

Presented by Alistair Kidson, Director Analyst, Gartner

For over a decade, integrated talent management efforts have fallen short, hampered by siloed processes, legacy systems, and unclear value outcomes. Data shows less than 50% of talent functions achieve meaningful impact on core outcomes. In this session, Alistair Kidson, Director Analyst at Gartner, explored how new demands and mounting cost pressures are creating renewed momentum for integration.

Key Takeaways

  • “Sixty percent of CHROs rank identifying, placing, and retaining the right talent as their top priority to meet evolving business needs.”
  • “There are two major friction points for talent management functions:
    • Nearly half of talent management leaders say misalignment between internal processes creates friction and wasted effort.
    • Forty-two percent of leaders say their day-to-day activities don’t reflect their talent strategy.”
  • “An integrated talent management program enables organizations to generate an 11% increase in talent outcomes.”
  • “To integrate their talent management program activities, organizations must do three things:
    • Connect talent customer data 
    • Design outcome-aligned solutions
    • Collaborate across the talent value chain.”

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with Alistair Kidson by contacting Gerri Weinberger at gerri.weinberger@gartner.com.  

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