Login
Login

ELEMENTS GLOBAL SERVICES

Request A Proposal

Blog

Expand

Decorative Line 1

Onboard

Decorative Line 2

Manage

Decorative Line 3

Pay

EOR: The Key to Accelerating Investment Portfolio Growth 

Blog

By

Whether you’re seizing a new, promising startup from the clutches of a competitor, or branching out into unexplored markets to diversify revenue streams, having the right HR and compliance infrastructure is key. Without it, these opportunities can pass you by – or worse, cause financial risk and liability. And partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) could be the difference between failure and success.  

But what is an EOR? 

An EOR is an organization that serves as the employer for legal and tax purposes, while the employee performs work for an end company. The EOR provides local expertise and in-depth knowledge of the end-to-end employment process to deftly manage issues such as taxes, regulations, legal and administrative policies and cultural barriers.  

By leveraging an EOR solution, your portfolio companies can tap into new opportunities and accelerate growth in full compliance with local regulations. An EOR solution can also dramatically decrease the time and cost to enter new markets. It can take anywhere from 20 weeks to 2 years to enter a new country, but with an EOR solution it can take as little as 2 weeks and save up to 87.5% on costs. 


There is a myriad of different issues facing both VC and PE firms looking to expand their portfolio companies at speed. Partnering with an EOR can help navigate these complexities so your portfolio companies can focus on their core business strategies. 

Without the right partner to guide you through the ever-changing world of labor and tax laws, scaling your portfolio globally can incur significant risk. Elements Global Services has local entities in more than 160 countries, enabling your portfolio companies to enter new markets with speed and compliance.

To learn more about Elements’ pioneering Direct EOR solutions, click here. 

About Elements Global Services 
Elements Global Services is a global tech firm, focused on software built to go beyond country borders and simplify a company’s ability to expand their business, onboard employees, manage compliance and pay globally. Headquartered in Chicago, Elements offers customers 100% direct Employer of Record services in over 160 countries, powered by proprietary HR technology that simplifies everything from payroll, benefits and human capital management to HR outsourcing, local compliance, and visa & mobility. 

Elements GS Icon

Request A Proposal

Our team of regional experts are here to support you with your global expansion plans.

If you have any questions, just get in touch and we will be delighted to help.







    Send me occasional news, offers & events from Elements Global Services.
    I can unsubscribe at any time.
    Will Carter

    Will Carter Will Carter Linkedin
    Chief Revenue Officer

    Will Carter is Elements’ chief revenue officer reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. Will is responsible for driving Elements’ next phase of growth by aligning and scaling revenue generating functions, including marketing, sales, customer success and revenue ops.

    Will brings more than 15 years of experience building and leading high-growth companies. He has a proven track record of building strong teams in complex and dynamic situations, including environments defined by substantial M&A and significant organic growth. Previously, he served as CRO at global legal technology company Litera where he oversaw more than 150% revenue growth over two years. Will also led the Revenue Practice at private equity firm K1, where he supported growth initiatives across its portfolio of B2B software companies. Will spent a decade at management consultancy ZS Associates, where he focused exclusively on delivering business impact through sales and marketing solutions.

    Will earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Psychology at the College of William and Mary where he graduated valedictorian. He earned an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.

    Anthony Smith Anthony Smith LinkedIn
    Chief Operating Officer

    Anthony Smith is Element’s COO, reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. Anthony leads the internal HR Strategy and operations while also leading our client operations team across payroll, global mobility and HR service delivery for more than 160 countries.

    Anthony has more than a decade of experience in HR and an extensive background working in financial services. Previously, Anthony held management positions at global fragrance company Firmenich where he led the company’s digital strategy across HR and implemented advanced people analytics to attract high-quality talent. He also held management roles at Merril Lynch, where he managed institutional clients with an asset size of $10 billion. At gloal consulting firm PwC, Anthony led global mobility programs advising on policies, tax compliance, talent strategy, cost projections, policy implementation and RPF processes.

    Anthony earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from The College of New Jersey. He holds certifications in project management and predictive indexing for human behaviors. Anthony is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

    Doug Olds

    Doug Olds Doug Olds Linkedin
    Chief Financial Officer

    Douglas (Doug) Olds is Elements’ CFO reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. Doug is responsible for the overall financial health of Elements, including day-to-day financial operations, strategic planning and working with capital providers. His experiences working with rapidly growing companies and the capital markets is welcomed during this pivotal and high-growth period.

    Doug brings two decades of experience as a senior finance and business leader within organizations ranging from startups to third generation enterprises across various industries, such as tech (SaaS), CPG, energy, logistics and investment banking. His experiences include M&A transactions as large as $285 million in equity value to consulting and investment banking with companies of more than $600 million in revenue. Doug has built manufacturing and distribution business from concept to multimillion dollars in sales. More recently, Doug served as CFO for a human capital management software firm, where he oversaw the development o fan ASO payroll offering. Additionally, he was a key executive partner active in many areas of the business including strategy, operations, strategic alliances, customer service, head of HR, client contracts, vendor contracts and legal issues. He ultimately led the company through a sale to a private equity firm.

    Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Strategy and Finance from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

    Rick HammellRick Hammell Linkedin
    Chief Executive Officer

    Rick Hammell is the founder and CEO of Elements Global Services. Rick founded Elements in 2015, from his dining room table after noticing gaps in the existing marketplace for solutions that enabled companies to expand into new markets simply, quickly and compliantly. Through his commitment to simplifying expansion, Rick pioneered the Direct Employer of Record business model aimed at supporting companies with global aspirations.

    Under Rick’s leadership, Elements has grown from a local startup to a global tech firm with 19 offices and the capability to support clients in more than 160 countries. Elements has since developed proprietary cloud-based software platforms further supported by a worldwide network of experts helping clients to navigate the complexities of international HR, payroll and local compliance.

    Prior to launching Elements, Rick served as global vice president of human resources at HCBR Group and director of HR and recruitment at P.A.R.T.S Inc.

    Rick is the author of “Getting Sh*t Done!: The Millennial CEO.” He was named an Ernst & Young (EY) 2021 Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year winner, distinguished for his entrepreneurial spirit and impact on the communities he serves.

    Rick earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in HR from American Intercontinental University. He holds a certification for Senior Professional in Human Resources.

    Rick serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago. He is an active participant in several HR organizations, including the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), Certification Institute and the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO).

    JoHannah Harrington JoHannah Harrington Linkedin
    Chief Legal Officer

    JoHannah Harrington serves as Elements’ chief legal officer reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. JoHannah leads the Legal & Compliance Department, including risk management & compliance, commercial law, employment law and legal strategy. She also oversees the company’s legal strategy, aligned with Elements’ business goals and mission, and provides regular counsel to Elements’ executive team.

    JoHannah has extensive experience in analyzing, structuring, negotiating and closing sophisticated commercial transactions. She formulates risk mitigation strategies that protect corporate capital and profitability. Previously, JoHannah served as co-founder of the world's first venture-as-a-service platform where she led the day-to-day management and public sector consulting practices. She has managed corporate compliance and governance for a leading international development and management consulting firm, where she was handpicked to serve as a regional legal expert and compliance lead for matters across 40 countries and 20 states.

    JoHannah earned both a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a law degree from Marquette University. She also holds a master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    She serves on the board of the Good Samaritan Society Foundation and is a member of Chief, the only private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.

    Chelsey Griggs Chelsey Griggs Linkedin
    Chief Revenue Officer

    Chelsey Griggs is Elements Global Services’ chief strategy officer reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. Chelsey oversees the company’s business strategy and organizational readiness to support Elements’ growth objectives.

    Chelsey has more than 20 years of experience leading business strategy and transformation initiatives. For more than a decade, she has focused on Human Capital Management (HCM), specializing in strategic planning, M&A and technology services. Notably, Chelsey held several senior vice president roles across M&A, global technology operations and risk at HR software provider Ceridian, where she supported multiple global expansion and product acquisitions, as well as the company’s IPO. She has held multiple senior executive positions, including global director of HCM presales and marketing at Lawson Software. Chelsey has managed global teams and led them in operations ranging from strategy, sales and marketing, technology, security and risk.

    Chelsey holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Chelsey is an active member of the Red Cross, where she is a board member and serves as chair of the Development committee. She is dedicated to mentorship, launching company-wide leadership initiatives and supporting top talent programs as an executive coach throughout her career.

    Adil Shabbir Adil Shabbir Linkedin
    Chief Technology Officer

    Adil Shabbir is the CTO of Elements Global Services, reporting to CEO Rick Hammell. Adil leads the company’s product and technology vision and execution. He drives Elements’ cloud-based software platform strategy and technology, bringing innovative solutions to market to help clients achieve quick and compliant global expansion.

    Adil has extensive experience in the HR and FinTech spaces. He has built human capital management and payment systems from the ground up while serving in C-suite and senior leadership roles at Payactiv, BenefitPoint, Oracle, Mindtree, Blackhawk Network and ADP. Additionally, Adil’s experience extends into the private equity and venture capital realm, where he worked with firms including Sequoia, TPG and IVP to close multiple funding rounds for early-stage companies. He was instrumental in several successful exits, including Blackhawk Network’s IPO. He also led joint venture formation and M&A activity, including acquisitions for ADP, Oracle and the Blackhawk Network.

    Adil earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA with Distinction from California State University, Stanislaus. He is a graduate of the Strategic Decisions and Risk Management program at Stanford University.

    Adil is a member of the DevNetwork Executive Board and serves as an advisor to three global advisory firms and two tech startups. In 2011, Adil founded a non-profit which supports global humanitarian aid and disaster relief, children’s health and education and financial inclusion initiatives.