Ruth Gutierrez Hafoka

Chief Human Resources Officer

Ruth is a business leader who advocates for talent and takes pride in her ability to translate business strategies into innovative yet pragmatic talent strategies. Throughout her career, she has successfully led significant cultural transformations that enable growth, while ensuring that personnel decisions advance an inclusive and innovative environment.

Her background spans all core disciplines of HR including international experience, and for-profit and nonprofit organizations in healthcare, financial services, and fintech. She’s led the full spectrum of HR functions spanning Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Business Partners, HR Shared Services, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Before joining Equality Health, Ruth held a series of progressively responsible HR leadership roles with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, most recently serving as CHRO reporting to the CEO. There, she was responsible for developing and leading the strategic human capital and diversity and inclusion agenda to deliver on the organization’s mission. Previously, she was Vice President of Talent Management and Diversity and Inclusion for Ally Financial, a leading auto finance company and internet bank, where she led the design and development of innovative human capital strategies, solutions, and programs. As Vice President of Talent Management for GMAC Financial Services, she designed and developed a best-in-class Talent Management Center of Expertise and led successful change initiatives, leadership recruitment efforts, and acquisitions that grew GMAC ResCap’s employee base from 200 to 14,000 and enabled expansion to Canada, Europe, and Latin America.

Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Communications from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. She currently serves as a Board Member and Secretary for the HR Executive Forum. She has also served on the boards of the Make a Wish Foundation MN Chapter and College Possible. In 2021, Ruth was lauded as a Notable HR Leader by the Twin Cities Business Journal.