BNP Paribas Appoints Sarah Roussel as Group Head of HR
BNP Paribas has named Sarah Roussel as the new Group Head of Human Resources, starting July 1, 2026. She is poised to take over from Sofia Merlo, who plans to retire following over forty years with the Group.
In her new position, Roussel will become a part of the Group Executive Committee and will report to Philippe Maillard, COO of BNP Paribas.
She will be pivotal in designing and implementing the bank’s forthcoming strategic plan, collaborating with teams from various business lines, regions, and functions to assist its worldwide staff of 180,000 workers.
The appointment arrives while BNP Paribas is experiencing ongoing changes throughout its operations. Roussel will be responsible for enhancing the structure to support the Group’s next growth phase, concentrating on aligning the people strategy with changing business priorities.
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Regarding the transition, CEO Jean-Laurent Bonnafé recognized Sofia Merlo’s extensive involvement with the organization, emphasizing her contributions to leading transformation and development efforts throughout her career.
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He mentioned that Roussel’s extensive leadership experience would assist in maintaining this momentum and advancing the Group’s future goals.
Roussel possesses substantial experience in finance and leadership positions at BNP Paribas. She commenced her career with the Group in 1994 and has since occupied various senior roles, including Chief Financial Officer positions across different divisions and regions.
She has also managed business divisions as CEO of BNP Paribas Factor France and the Iberian region, and most recently held the position of CEO at Arval France, where she enhanced the company's market standing.
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Her appointment signifies BNP Paribas' focus on maintaining leadership continuity while introducing a strategic, cross-disciplinary viewpoint to its HR role as the company embarks on its next transformative phase.