CV in brief
- November 2013 - December 2014: head of resourcing and employer brand, Sodexo
- January 2008 - November 2013: global head of resourcing, Electrocomponents PLC
- January 2007 - December 2007: client services manager, Credit Suisse/AMS
- August 2005 - December 2006: client services manager, Deloitte/AMS
A day in your life
Tell us about your job, organisation and team.
The UK team is about 20 strong and there are smaller teams in Dubai and Toronto. Recruitment will vary form entry level up to executive hires.
What is the most rewarding and challenging parts of your role?
Reward comes in many ways but to name a few – creating solutions to very real problems that affect the business and impact the organisation. For example, transforming the graduate attraction and assessment to deliver quality. It’s always rewarding to see team members grow in confidence because they have the backing to try out new things and learn about themselves and the business. Also seeing how technology really can deliver quality and transform operations.
What does a typical day look like for you?
The only real routine will revolve around monthly leadership meetings and reporting. Other than one to ones with the team, I could be talking about developing our EVP with the creative agency and internal communications, meeting with key stakeholders about attraction campaigns or contributing to our diversity and inclusion efforts. Equally, I will spend time listening to the team understanding what really works on the ground.
Why did you choose your current organisation to work for?
Carillion is an interesting mix of business. We can build landmark buildings and be responsible for cleaning the buildings. Both are equally important to our delivery. This leads to a variety of recruitment challenges
What skills are essential for your role?
Networking is critical to understand and get access to all the moving parts. Also energy and creativity. There are standard approaches to problems but there are always subtleties and challenges that might throw you off course.
Career path
How did you get to where you are now? Have you followed the career path you expected?
A large amount of luck – I started of life as a tennis coach but fell into recruitment. Moving to AMS was the best thing for my career as my learning and development grew hugely
What challenges have you faced along the way? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was being asked to be HRD of the APAC business with electrocomponents for a year while the business was facing a reorganisation. I used my networking capability to learn quickly and wasn’t afraid to ask questions and trust the team – I wasn’t the expert in local HR but was able to communicate and build the team.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
No one specific moment but knowing that many of the people who have worked for me have gone onto better jobs and fulfilled their potential
What advice would you offer to others who are looking to get to where you are now?
Understand the business first. If you can put yourself in the shoes of that customer and understand the commercial drivers. Be a team player; our world is no good for egos.
What advice would you give to your 22-year-old self?
Don’t be so arrogant that you think you know everything. As I get older, I feel I know less and less. Keep that mindset.
Either/or
- Coffee or tea? Tea - I am English
- Sweet or savoury? Savoury - minute on the lips and lifetime on the hips
- The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? The Beatles - for creativity and pushing the boundaries
- Apple or Android? Apple - as much as it pains me to say it, I'm locked in
- Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert - ask anyone that knows me
- Early bird or night owl? Early bird - I just work better in the morning and I am training for a triathlon so have no choice in the matter
- Winter or summer? Summer - can't beat a pint or glass of wine outside in the early summer
- City or country? City - Lots to explore and people to meet
Favourites
- App: Strava
- Film: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - it has a great take on the definition of madness. It's both funny and incredibly sad at the same time
- Song: Greeting to the New Brunette by Billy Bragg - it's about lost love, youth and possibilities
- Book: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - deception, betrayal and redemption
- Childhood hero: Viv Richards, the West Indian and Somerset cricketer - he had grace, power and fearlessness. A genius
- Guilty pleasure: Chocolate digestives - who doesn't like one dunked in tea?
- Place to eat: No one place - as long as the company is good
- Holiday spot: Skiing - anywhere
- Piece of advice you've been given: Sometimes your worst customer can become your biggest champion