Top 10 Payroll Thought Leaders to Follow in 2025

#passionforpayroll, #payrolldeservesaseatatthetable, #payrollisacareer… There are various hashtags trending on LinkedIn and other professional networks that advocate for payroll and its important, yet often underestimated role in the business world. But who are the thought leaders who are driving payroll forward and whose ideas are shaping the future of payroll?

In this blog post, we will highlight 10 top voices from the payroll industry that are worth following in 2025. Their follower numbers on LinkedIn might differ, but what they all have in common is their passion for payroll and their motivation to drive innovation in the payroll industry.

A quick note: The order of names listed does not imply any ranking or hierarchy. The sequence is solely for presentation purposes within this Top 10 listing.

Ian Giles is a global payroll leader, strategist, and advisor who has worked in the payroll industry for more than 25 years, including in payroll roles for Fortune 100, TIME 100, and FTSE 250 businesses where he has led transformative projects in over 170 countries to enhance payroll processes, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Ian is a passionate payroll advocate who regularly shares his knowledge and insights on LinkedIn and has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for HRIS, HR Operations, Performance Management, and Employee Relations.

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Samantha O’Sullivan is the Policy and Advisory Lead at the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) where she is working alongside payroll professionals to shape the future of payroll through legislative change, upskilling and remaining compliant. She is a self-confessed payroll enthusiast who leverages 18 years of experience in the payroll industry during which she worked as a payroll manager in private industry and also in a payroll bureau environment.

In her role at the CIPP, she ensures the profession is heard and understood through consultations, government representation, and formal publications. In addition to her work for the CIPP, Samantha regularly shares important legal updates and other industry-specific news on LinkedIn.

Russell Webb is a Payroll Influencer and Business Development Manager for Phase 3 Consulting, specializing in Managed Service Payroll. He leverages eight years of experience in the global payroll industry, having worked in various roles, from payroll team management to account management and sales.

Russell is an active payroll influencer who regularly shares his thoughts and insights on LinkedIn—either through quality payroll memes or his weekly Payroll & Pastries Newsletter, a regular round-up of payroll, HR and finance news.

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Max van der Klis-Busink is an internationally recognized thought leader in payroll. In his recently published book The Global Payroll Manager’s Playbook, Max distills his knowledge and experience from over 20 years in global payroll into an encompassing guide that covers strategy, governance, operating models, and delivery.

Through his platform Passion For Payroll, Max delivers consulting, education, and keynote services based on his Global Payroll Management Framework. With regular publications, thought leadership, and his in-demand book available on Amazon, Max continues to be a go-to resource for anyone navigating the complexities of global payroll.

Mokscha Haack is Global Payroll Process Excellence Lead at Zimmer Biomet. With over 15 years of experience helping companies tackle complex global payroll challenges, he is passionate about streamlining payroll processes, leading impactful projects, and empowering teams to boost efficiency and accuracy.

As the driving force behind Payroll Central, Mokscha offers a trusted resource for payroll professionals navigating the complexities of global payroll management. An active presence on LinkedIn, he regularly shares valuable insights, best practices, and industry updates, making him a go-to influencer in the payroll community.

Anita Lettink is an international keynote speaker, HR and payroll tech advisor, and author and has recently been recognized as a Top 25 Global Thought Leader on the Future of Work and a Top 100 HR Tech Influencer. After a global career in HR and payroll consulting and outsourcing, she started her own business to help CHROs and their teams understand how work is changing and what they can do to prepare their employees and companies to thrive.

Anita is the author of “How to Select Your Next Payroll” and “Equal Pay for Equal Work” and the founder of HRTech Radar. She is also a partner at the Strategic Management Centre where she focuses on strategy, innovation, people, and technology.

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Kira Rubiano is Partner for the U.S. at Payrollminds, where she leads business development and delivery, helping clients simplify global payroll and improve compliance. With 17 years of international experience, Kira brings a practical, people-first approach to every engagement. She is actively involved in the global payroll community and strives to enhance and streamline operations on a global scale.

In her role at Payrollminds, Kira empowers the next generation of payroll professionals while driving innovation and operational excellence across regions. She is also active on LinkedIn, where she shares her experience, insights, and practical advice.

Pete A. Tiliakos is a HR & payroll futurist, principal analyst, strategic advisor, and podcast host who leverages over 30 years of experience in HR and payroll technology, services, and transformation. He is globally recognized for his knowledge, research, and advisory in the fields of payroll, Employer of Record (EOR) services, payments, and HCM technology.

Pete is a regular contributor to industry associations, podcasts, publications, and events through which he shares his research and perspectives with both payroll practitioners and providers. He further is the co-host of the HR and Payroll 2.0 podcast where he explores key trends and challenges faced by today’s HR and payroll leaders together with his co-host, Julie Fernandez.

Bart van der Storm is a global payroll leader and strategist, author, and Top HR consulting voice. He is the CEO and founder of Payrollminds, an association of industry-leading payroll consultants empowering international organizations to streamline their multi-country payroll, and harnesses more than twenty-five years of experience in global payroll.

He is the author of “The Payrollmind: How To Build Influence and Make an Impact As a Global Payroll Professional”, a practical guide for payrollers to develop their skills and become a successful global payroll leader. As the CEO of Payrollminds, Bart continues to drive innovation and transformation across the industry. He regularly shares his thoughts and crucial insights about the global payroll industry on his LinkedIn and website.

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Gerard M. Hall, aka “That Payroll Guy”, is an outspoken payroll evangelist focused on educating people on all facets of payroll and the Director of Payroll Operations at CBIZ. He is a frequent podcast guest and speaker at international payroll conferences, regularly contributes to respected publications in the payroll industry, and is highly involved in promoting the respect for all payroll professionals.

He was recently recognized by Payroll Org, a nonprofit professional association founded by the American Payroll Association and committed to enhancing the quality of the payroll profession, with the 2024 Citation of Merit for outstanding services.