The quiet erosion of HR’s power

Good morning!

Ruth Umoh here, Fortune’s Next To Lead editor. For decades, HR professionals were denied their “seat at the table” in company leadership. But during the COVID pandemic, it became abundantly clear that the C-suite could no longer ignore chief people officers, who guided companies through existential business challenges, including lockdowns, remote work, and the Great Resignation. Now, a quieter and more structural shift is underway. The seat remains, but the authority attached to it is moving elsewhere.