Chrissy Toskos: Transforming Human Capital at Securitas North America
From Prudential to Securitas: A Journey of Transformation
Toskos graduated from Babson College in 1999, where she developed the entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen that would define her career. Her professional journey took her to Prudential Financial, where she would spend nearly two decades building expertise in organizational transformation, talent development, and strategic human resources management.
At Prudential, Toskos held multiple progressive leadership roles that showcased her ability to drive change at scale. Early in her tenure, she served as Vice President of Campus Recruiting, where she led the transformation of Prudential's multi-faceted campus recruiting strategy, becoming an early adopter of mobile recruiting technology in 2015 when fewer than 20% of Fortune 500 companies had implemented such capabilities. This forward-thinking approach to talent acquisition demonstrated her commitment to meeting candidates where they were and removing barriers to opportunity.
Her work at Prudential extended far beyond campus recruiting. Toskos played a key role in helping Prudential complete a $750 million cost savings program one year ahead of schedule, demonstrating her ability to align HR strategy with business outcomes during periods of significant organizational change. Her colleagues described her as passionate about developing, mentoring, and coaching team members, with one noting that under her leadership, teams underwent incredible transformations reaching new levels of excellence.
Throughout her Prudential career, Toskos invested heavily in her own development. She participated in the Advanced HR Executive Program (AHREP) at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, one of the world's premier HR leadership programs. Reflecting on the experience, she emphasized the importance of turning business strategy into HR priorities and redefining HR value from the outside-in—a philosophy that would become central to her approach at Securitas.
Leading the Securitas Transformation
When Securitas North America previous CEO Greg Anderson announced Toskos's appointment in September 2023, he emphasized that she was joining "at an exciting and pivotal juncture" as the company embarked on a fundamental transformation of its business model. The traditional security industry, long dominated by physical guarding services, was being disrupted by technological innovation, changing client expectations, and evolving workforce demographics.
Reflecting on her decision to join Securitas, Toskos expressed excitement about joining a purpose-driven organization that was transforming the security industry by putting customers at the center of their business and investing in employees to build the talent and capabilities to win. She was particularly drawn to Securitas's distinct culture and its mission of making the world a safer place.
Toskos's mandate at Securitas is comprehensive and ambitious: reshape how the company recruits, supports, and retains talent to create a more connected and meaningful employee experience. This involves developing programs to prepare the workforce for future business challenges, transforming training and development initiatives, and building an inclusive culture that reflects the diversity of the communities Securitas serves.
Driving Diversity and Inclusion at Scale
One of Toskos's most visible achievements at Securitas has been advancing the company's diversity and inclusion agenda. In October 2024, just over a year after her arrival, Securitas was recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women and Diverse Employees. This recognition reflected both the company's existing diverse workforce—68% of employees representing various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds—and the intentional programs and policies being developed to support inclusive excellence.
Speaking about the recognition, Toskos emphasized that diversity is not only celebrated at Securitas but is considered a fundamental pillar of the company's innovation strategy. She articulated a clear business case for diversity, noting that the company's success is deeply tied to the unique perspectives and talents of its people. This approach moves beyond compliance-based diversity programs to position inclusion as a strategic driver of innovation and growth.
The scale of this challenge cannot be overstated. Managing HR strategy for over 121,000 employees across hundreds of locations requires systems thinking, technological sophistication, and cultural sensitivity. Toskos has worked to develop programs that can be implemented consistently across diverse geographic markets while remaining responsive to local community needs and workforce characteristics.
Building the Workforce of the Future
Perhaps Toskos's most complex challenge at Securitas involves preparing a traditionally labor-intensive workforce for a technology-enabled future. As the company augments physical security with advanced technologies—including AI-powered surveillance, integrated security platforms, and data analytics—the skills required of security professionals are evolving rapidly.
This transformation requires rethinking every aspect of the employee lifecycle. Recruitment strategies must identify candidates with aptitude for technology adoption and continuous learning. Training programs must balance traditional security skills with digital competencies. Career development pathways must provide opportunities for upskilling and advancement as roles evolve. And retention strategies must create compelling employee value propositions in an increasingly competitive labor market.
Toskos has approached these challenges by emphasizing learning, development, and inclusivity as core organizational capabilities. Her experience leading transformation at Prudential—where she helped modernize business and corporate functions while maintaining employee engagement—provides a roadmap for managing similar changes at Securitas.
Leadership Philosophy and Personal Values
Those who have worked with Chrissy Toskos describe a leader who combines strategic thinking with genuine care for people. Her LinkedIn profile reveals a leader guided by principles of moral courage and institutional responsibility, someone who believes HR professionals must sometimes take positions that are "neither safe, nor politic, nor popular" when conscience demands it.
Her commitment to mentorship and talent development appears throughout her career. Colleagues from Prudential praised her passion for developing and coaching team members, noting how she inspired people to reach for their dreams while building high-performing teams. This focus on people development reflects a broader philosophy: that organizational transformation ultimately depends on individual growth and capability building.
The Road Ahead
As Securitas continues its transformation journey, Toskos faces both opportunities and challenges. The security industry's evolution toward intelligent, technology-enabled solutions creates enormous potential for innovation in workforce strategy. Companies that successfully upskill their workforces and create cultures of continuous learning will have significant competitive advantages.
At the same time, the scale and complexity of transforming HR practices across such a large, geographically dispersed organization presents ongoing challenges. Balancing standardization with local flexibility, maintaining engagement during periods of change, and ensuring that diversity and inclusion efforts translate into tangible improvements in employee experience all require sustained attention and resources.
As organizations across industries grapple with workforce transformation, technological disruption, and evolving employee expectations, Toskos's approach offers valuable lessons. She demonstrates that successful HR leadership in complex times requires business acumen, technological sophistication, cultural awareness, and above all, an unwavering commitment to developing people and building inclusive organizations where everyone can contribute and thrive.