18 | Acquisition International, June 2026 HR Thought Leader of the Year 2026 (UK): Rachael Wallwork Evolito is a UK-based aerospace company dedicated to developing and manufacturing class-leading electric propulsion systems for next-generation aircraft. At the heart of the company’s organisational success is Chief People Officer Rachael Wallwork, a seasoned professional boasting a demonstrated history of building and scaling high-performing organisations. We spoke with Rachael to learn more below, following her recent recognition in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2026. Contact: Rachael Wallwork Company: Evolito Web Address: www.evolito.aero Evolito was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from YASA, a manufacturer of axial-flux electric motors and motor controllers for the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries. After YASA was acquired by Mercedes-Benz, Evolito was established with the mission of accelerating the adoption of electric flight and contributing to a more sustainable, low-emission future for aviation. Prior to Evolito, Rachael Wallwork was part of the senior leadership team at YASA. She led the people agenda through a period of significant growth and complexity, culminating in the successful acquisition of the business by Mercedez-Benz. She supported the founder-led, deep-tech organisation through this significant transition whilst retaining talent, stabilising culture, and integrating new ownership expectations. As Chief People Officer at the newly established Evolito, Rachael became directly responsible for establishing the organisation’s people focus from the ground-up. She began with a handful of employees and created a scalable people and leadership framework that included designing its cultures and values, building leadership capability, implementing transparent development pathways, and creating reward and benefits frameworks that allow Evolito to attract and retain world-class engineering talent. “Across my career, I am most proud of consistently translating strategy into culture and culture into performance, creating environments where people feel trusted, included, and capable of delivering extraordinary outcomes in demanding, innovative sectors.” Ultimately, Rachael’s strong direction has enabled Evolito to grow at speed whilst maintaining a strong, inclusive, and performance-driven culture. “A key marker of success has been embedding culture as a business enabler rather than ‘nice to have’,” she told us. “This approach has supported Evolito’s progression through critical technical and regulatory milestones, strengthened leadership effectiveness, and contributed to external recognition of the company as a Great Place to Work.” Treating culture as a strategic business enabler is a defining aspect of Rachael’s leadership strategy. She focuses on creating environments that make people feel trusted, included, and safe enough to take the intelligent risks that are required for innovation. This is a particularly important approach in sectors such as aerospace and advanced engineering, where technical excellence depends on collaboration, psychological safety, and strong leadership behaviours. Within these fast-growth and engineering-led sectors, Rachael has observed an unconscious tendency to equate authority with a narrow leadership style. “I’ve learned that the most effective way to overcome this is not to adapt myself to fit a mould,” she said, “but to consistently demonstrate impact. I focus on delivery, clarity of thinking, and commercial outcomes, allowing results to speak louder than assumptions.” Through hard work, determination, and an unwavering sense of authenticity, Rachael has ensured that her voice is heard in even the loudest organisations. The CPO has accomplished much over the course of her professional journey, offering essential guidance to organisations in moments of significant change. For building influence, creating impact, and sustaining long-term success without ever compromising her values, Rachael Wallwork has been named the UK’s HR Thought Leader of the Year 2026. To ambitious businesswomen who aspire to one day follow in these inspiring footsteps, Rachael emphasises the importance of maintaining intention and impact. Rather than settling as an “everyday HR professional”, she encourages aspiring CPOs to think and act like a business leader: understanding the commercial drivers, technology, clients, and risks, then using that understanding to influence and shape strategy. She shared: “The most impactful people leaders are not just operationally excellent; they are trusted advisors and thought leaders who help organisations navigate change and complexity.
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