Parsons has appointed Soo Lagasse, a global talent acquisition leader, as chief human resources officer, effective April 1.
The company said Tuesday Lagasse, who currently serves as senior vice president of global talent acquisition and mobility, will succeed Susan Balaguer, who plans to retire this spring after nearly five years with the company. Balaguer will remain with the company through the end of May to support the transition.
“Soo is a proven business executive with a track record of transforming talent functions into strategic business partners,” said Carey Smith, chair, president and CEO of Parsons.
“I look forward to welcoming her to our executive leadership team, and to the continued growth momentum she will bring as our new human resources leader,” added Smith, a 2026 Wash100 awardee.
Who Is Soo Lagasse?
Lagasse has over 30 years of experience in the government contracting industry. She joined Parsons in 2021.
In her current role, she has led an overhaul of the company’s global talent acquisition operations, contributing to multiple record hiring periods. She also expanded Parsons’ university and internship programs, increasing global intern participation.
Her work includes enhancing the company’s global mobility capabilities and implementing technology platforms to support data-driven workforce planning.
Before joining Parsons, Lagasse held leadership roles in talent acquisition and human resources at several publicly traded companies.
Lagasse said she is honored to be named CHRO and to continue serving at Parsons alongside some of the finest human resources professionals in the industry.
“Parsons is truly a People First company, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to prioritize our people and to build programming that drives the continued success of our mission-driven workforce,” she added.
How Did Parsons Transform Its HR Enterprise Under Susan Balaguer’s Leadership?
As CHRO, Balaguer helped harmonize Parsons’ benefits programs, established an employee experience function and strengthened the company’s employee value proposition as part of its HR modernization efforts. She also aligned HR operations with business growth objectives and enhanced talent acquisition strategies, contributing to improved hiring and retention outcomes.
Smith said Balaguer advanced the modernization of Parsons’ HR enterprise and helped align the function with the company’s People First culture.
“From aligning our benefits programs to enhancing our leadership development curriculum, Susan’s focus on a positive employee experience moved Parsons forward. A highlight of her tenure was the momentum we garnered in recruiting and retention, achieving hiring records and attrition goals year over year,” the Parsons chief executive added.
