Bellevue's search for a new director to steer the city’s human resources alongside its diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives has culminated in the appointment of Bindi Lassige, as announced by City Manager Diane Carlson. With a storied 20-year career in HR, Lassige's appointment follows the upcoming retirement of current HR Director Joy St. Germain, who departs after dedicating 36 years to public service, per information from a city press release.
During her tenure exceeding a decade at the Gates Foundation, Lassige helmed global HR operations and became known for integrating equity into the organization's rhythm, crafting policies marked by fairness, transparency, and consistency. Lassige's professional journey has intersected with sectors as diverse as global philanthropy, technological firms, and startups, which has been pivotal in recognizing her as a leader capable of leading organizational change while working in concert with executive teams.
In a statement obtained by the Bellevue city news, Carlson expressed excitement about Lassige's dedication to fostering a people-centered workplace, stating, "We were thrilled to find in Bindi someone who is deeply committed to building people-centered systems that advance equity, strengthen culture, and can support the high-performing teams we have here at the city." Lassige's proficiency in HR policy and her technical skills are lauded to bolster Bellevue's ambition to remain a progressive and inclusive employer in the region.
Starting November 24, Lassige will assume leadership of Bellevue’s human resources department, which has a broad sweep of responsibilities extending from administering ADA and Title VI functions to crafting personnel policies dealing with comprehensive HR services in the realms of employee and labor relations, collective bargaining, comprehensive benefits administration, recruitment, and oversight of applicable state and federal employment laws, recruitment, leaving her extensive experience at notable companies including Assurance IQ and Promethean to inform her approach to these new challenges, according to her background detailed in the press release.
