Rick Hammell, founder of Chicago-based global employer-of-record provider Atlas, stepped down from the CEO role to focus on new investments in the HR and global expansion industries effective Aug. 8.  

Hammell will remain with the company as executive chairman of the board and majority shareholder and continue to build SaaS technology.  

“As I step into the role of chairman, I will focus on strategic initiatives for Atlas,” Hammel stated in a post on LinkedIn. “This move also allows me to focus on new ventures and investments I have been working on, which drive my passion for building tools and solutions that create equitable opportunities for all businesses to compete in the global market.” 

Longstanding Atlas board member Ray Dile will become interim CEO, according to the post. He has been in the domestic PEO industry for 30 years and has served on Altas’ board for more than three years. 

“Innovation and pushing the boundaries to help other businesses scale quickly has always been a passion of mine, and I was able to accomplish this when I founded Atlas, but employer-of-record is not enough,” Hammell said in a press release. “As the human experience market continues to rapidly grow, I believe now is the time for me to expand my focus and invest in new solutions that will address how global businesses manage their diverse global workforce. There are many gaps in the service-enabled technology world, and I see a huge opportunity to create and build even further than I could at Atlas.” 

Hammell pioneered the world’s first 100% direct employer-of-record model in 2015 when he launched Atlas, formerly known as Elements Global Services, and has led the company from a staff of 10 to company with more than 500 employees in 19 offices across 160 countries. It has completed two series capital raises totaling $220 million, including a series B investment last year of up to $200 million from San Francisco-based investment firm Sixth Street Growth. 

Hammell is also the author of the book Getting Sh*t Done!: The Millennial CEO and is currently finalizing a book that is slated for publication in 2024 entitled The Millennial CEO, Post Series B: The Truth About Race, Inclusion, Age & Equality in the Boardroom. 

Rick Hammell