Steve Pickle Joins Direct Relief as Chief Human Resources Officer

Direct Relief today announced that Steve Pickle has joined its executive leadership team as Chief Human Resources Officer. Pickle brings more than 25 years of experience building teams and guiding organizations through growth and change. He will lead the organization's people strategy for a workforce spanning 10 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 13 countries globally, supporting the teams that make its humanitarian work possible in communities affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict.

Amy Weaver, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief, said, "I've had the pleasure of working with Steve and have seen firsthand his exceptional leadership and gift for connecting with people. He brings deep expertise in supporting teams across countries and time zones, building on the relationships and shared purpose that connect their work. I'm delighted to welcome him to Direct Relief, where his experience and warmth will be a wonderful addition to the extraordinary skill and dedication of our colleagues around the world."

The appointment marks another major leadership addition under Amy Weaver, who became Chief Executive Officer in 2025. Pickle joins Direct Relief from Samsara, where he served as the company's first Chief People Officer from 2022 to 2026.

During his tenure, Samsara's workforce grew from 2,000 to more than 4,000 employees, and annual recurring revenue increased from $750 million to more than $2 billion. He led talent strategy and people operations through the company's global expansion, including tripling headcount outside the United States, expanding in Mexico, and opening operations in India.

Previously, Pickle spent a decade at Salesforce, serving as Executive Vice President of Global People Strategy and Operations from 2018 to 2022. In 2019, he also served as Interim Chief People Officer and helped oversee Salesforce's $15.7 billion acquisition of Tableau. Earlier, he was Chief Operating Officer of the Enterprise Business Unit and oversaw global sales strategy and operations.

Speaking on his new role, Pickle said, "Direct Relief's mission and global impact are profound. It's a thrill to join the incredible team here and to have the opportunity to work with Amy again. With global health needs only becoming more complex, Direct Relief's operational sophistication and on-the-ground partner network help get critical medicines to the communities where they are needed most. It's an honor to contribute to this life-saving work."

Earlier in his career, Pickle served as Vice President at Impact Community Capital, a provider of affordable financing for low-income housing and community health and childcare facilities in California. A Grinnell College graduate, he holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from UCLA.

Pickle is a Trustee of Grinnell College and serves on the Advisory Council of the Kala Art Institute, which supports artists and art education in the San Francisco East Bay.

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Direct Relief provides large-scale medical assistance to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Top Five Largest Charities in America, honored with the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize, and recipient of 16 consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, Direct Relief is known for its logistics-driven humanitarian operations and longstanding commitment to transparency and trust.