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David Taylor-Smith
Regional President & CEO,
UK and Ireland
G4S Secure Solutions |
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Responsible for transporting 90% of UK bank notes, it is no surprise that G4S is the country’s largest security services company. Starting out as a guarding business founded in Copenhagen in 1901, the firm has grown to become a backbone for UK security. Their services now include manned security, the operation of criminal justice systems, electronic security systems, and financial services. As well as security, G4S is the largest meter reader in the UK and a world leader in electronic monitoring and de-mining. Former British Army Officer David Taylor-Smith, Regional President & CEO, UK and Ireland secured his job at G4S in 1998. Following overseas charity work, Taylor-Smith was awarded an MBE in 2003 and he currently sits on the board of WWF-UK. He will open the day’s proceedings with the keynote speech for EG2010.
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John Goldberg
Director of Executive
Talent Acquisition
Coca Cola |
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If it wasn’t for a pharmacist's bookkeeper, one of the world’s most powerful brands would never have been created. One afternoon in 1886, John Pemberton created a fragrant, caramel-coloured liquid which he mixed with carbonated water. Customers who sampled the drink knew Pemberton was onto something special, so a nearby pharmacy started selling the beverage for five cents a glass. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, called the drink Coca-Cola and wrote it out in his distinct script – to this day the company name is written the same way, and adorns each product they produce. Ever since then, the world’s largest beverage company have been a driver of marketplace innovation. John Goldberg, Director of Executive Talent Acquisition, is responsible for ensuring they recruit the skilled leaders needed to continue driving forward the company’s success.
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Alan Cairns
Director of Human Resources
Moneysupermarket |
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Founded in 1993 by a student at Nottingham University, Moneysupermarket.com has grown into UK’s number one finance price comparison website. In 2008, the site was viewed by 120 million people and generated over £178 million in revenue. Since the launch of their £14 million advertising campaign in September featuring Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones, Moneysupermaket witnessed their strongest trading quarter of 2009. Alan Cairns, an HR professional with over 20 years experience, joined Moneysupermarket.com at the end of 2007, and looks after the group’s people policies.
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Paul Maxin
Global Resourcing Director
Unilever |
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A Unilever product is chosen by someone across the globe 150 million times each day. Established during a decade which began with the Great Depression and ended with the Second World War, Unilever is an organisation that knows how to survive during tough trading conditions. Since then they have grown into a business which employs 174,000 people across almost 100 countries. As we enter a new decade, many are predicting the end of the recession which will result in the thawing of the recruitment freeze, an event which will give Paul Maxin, Global Resourcing Director, Unilever, a much wider talent pool to fish from.
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Elizabeth Sideris
Executive Director for
Human Resources
Cancer Research UK |
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By 2030 it is estimated that 12 million worldwide will die from a form of cancer. But did you know that over 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented? To help with the fight against cancer, over a million people donate regularly to fund the research of over 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses. And each year, women from across the country take part in the UK’s largest female only fundraising event, The Race for Life, which has raised over £240 million to fund Cancer Research’s life saving work. As the organisation is almost entirely funded by public donations, a single penny cannot be wasted – the charity needs to employ an honest and dedicated workforce that pay back the public’s generosity, something which Elizabeth Sideris, Executive Director for Human Resources, is at the heart of.
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Sarah Myers
HR Director of
Talent Management
BSkyB |
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Tuned into their customers, and tuned into their people – one of the foundations of BSkyB’s culture which has made them into the country’s largest pay TV provider. In 2009 Sky TV had almost nine and a half million customers, and group revenue exceed five billion pounds. Such strong performances in a difficult environment couldn’t have been achieved without their talented workforce, which BSkyB are committed to developing. In 2008, 78,029 training days were held for their 16,000 strong workforce and over 24,000 e-learning courses were completed by Sky employees. Sarah Myers, HR Director of Talent Management, plays an integral role in the formation of their current and future workforce.
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Lesley Strachan
Head of HR
Chelsea Football Club |
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From being one of the first clubs to use football shirts with numbers, to holding the record for the highest points total for a Premier League season, Chelsea Football Club have left a distinct mark on the world of football. Whilst you might think having a love of football would be a strong motivator for the London club’s management team, it is actually a distinct disadvantage. There is an important job at hand which needs an employee’s undivided attention, a lesson Lesley Strachan, Head of HR, has learnt during her time with the club.
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Stephen Sidebottom
Global Head of Organisational
Development
Nomura
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It was described as a seismic event, one that might only occur every hundred years - on 15th September 2008 Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. The filing marked the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, as what had been one of America's most credible investment banks folded with over $600 billion of debt. Turfed out of their offices, shell shocked bankers armed with boxes filled Wall Street not knowing where their career would take them next. Less than four weeks later, Nomura Holdings had purchased Lehman's investment banking and equities businesses in Europe and the Middle East for a nominal fee of $2. The Tokyo based financial services group were able to negotiate such a small fee as they were only acquiring Lehman's employees in the regions, and not its bonds, stocks or other assets. The acquisition of this talented workforce resulted in immense change and would have caused huge organisational chaos. Stephen Sidebottom, Nomura's Head of HR, played an integral role in the integration of these highly skilled individuals.
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David Fairhurst
Chief People Officer
McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd,
UK &
Northern Europe
&
Chairman Of People 1st
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The multitude of job cuts caused by the recession has thrust the issue of how people are managed firmly into the spotlight. Now more than ever HR professionals are looking at themselves and analysing the way they approach their job. David Fairhurst, the man who turned the phrase ‘McJob’ into a badge of honour, explores the practices that underpins 21st century HR thinking in his new book 'Words from the Whys'. As Fairhurst explains in the book, “In every position, in every role and throughout the very fabric of your organisation, it’s people that make the difference”. A passionate advocate of the power of people, and a long standing Chairman of this conference, David will bring his unique style to help our audience interact with our panel of experts.
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Karen Callaghan
Head of People
Innocent Drinks
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Back in 1999 on the first day of business for Innocent Drinks, the smoothie maker had three employees, one retailer and sold 20 smoothies. Now they employ 275 individuals, have over 10,000 retailers and sell two million drinks a week. The rapid growth of the company was spearheaded by three Cambridge graduates that quit their jobs to build the organisation, which now has a 71% stake of the UK smoothie market. The success of the beverage company is testament to the inspirational and influential power of people, which is something Karen Callaghnan, Head of People, Innocent Drinks, knows all about.
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Ian Parkes
Director of Talent and
Leadership Development
Fujitsu Global HR
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Anyone that owns a HD TV owes a debt of gratitude of Fujitsu. Thanks to breakthroughs their R&D department began making in the 1960s, the Tokyo based firm manufactured the first-ever high definition plasma monitor in 1999. As living rooms across the country brace themselves for the switchover from analogue to digital television (which will be completed by 2012), research has already commenced into broadcasting 3-D images into our homes, which utilises current HD technology. The current and future shape of television wouldn’t be the same without Fujitsu. For the past two years, Ian Parkes has been responsible for developing the leadership teams that inspire employees to make these breakthroughs.
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Richard Wade
Head of Organisation Effectiveness,
Group Operations
Lloyds Banking Group
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For over three hundred years the Lloyds name has been synonymous with the UK banking industry. Created by a series of mergers and acquisitions, before the start of the economic crisis Lloyds TSB were making profits that previously no one would have dreamt of – in 2007 it grossed profits of around £4 billion. Flash forward two years later, and after the much publicised acquisition of HBOS the newly formed Lloyds Banking Group had cut over 15,000 jobs in the space of twelve months, their Chairman Victor Blank had stepped down, and the Government holds a 43.4% stake in the group. Amidst this series of immense change, Richard Wade is part of the team that is charged with maximising the effectiveness of the organisation through its people.
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Peter Bedford
Group SVP, Head of Talent
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd
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Sally Hulks
Head of Leadership and Organisational Change
The Home Office
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Whilst the Home Office is known for managing immigration control, security and order, did you know they are also responsible for regulating British Summer Time? The governmental department employs around 25,000 employees, who are central to achieving their department’s goals. Gordon Brown has recently pledged to cut Whitehall spending by half, and a Government study has provided suggestion for how their HR function can be improved.
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Andy Doyle
Group HR Director
ITV |
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Established in 1955, ITV is the country’s longest running commercial television network. For over five decades the independent broadcaster have produced some of Britain’s most beloved television programmes, and 2009 marked a landmark moment for ITV, with the X-Factor final receiving a peak audience of 19.1 million viewers – a 62% share of the television audience. Simon Cowell’s show gives ordinary people the belief that they can do extraordinary things – a journey ITV’s workforce are about to travel on. Archie Norman, the man who turned around the fortunes of ASDA, is taking over as Chairman of ITV at the beginning of 2010. One of the country’s most celebrated leaders will lead the broadcaster into the digital age. Andy Doyle, Group HR Director, will play an integral role in motivating and inspire their workforce to create a bright new future.
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Steve Newhall
Vice President Europe
Development Dimensions International |
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Steve Newhall is Vice President Europe of Development Dimensions International (DDI) and Managing Director of DDI UK.Steve supports clients across the whole range of DDI’s services, specialising in the early identification of leaders, succession and talent management and large-scale selection programmes.Steve joined DDI in 1998 as an Account Director and progressed to Business Development Manager, before becoming DDI UK Managing Director in 2002.Clients that Steve has worked with include Citigroup, Nissan, Panasonic, Philips, Rolls-Royce and Shell. Steve also provides executive coaching and has coached an Olympic gold medalist as well as a number of senior business executives around the world.
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Andy Lowe
Talent Management Practice Leader
Right Management |
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Andy is a Practice Leader for Right Management UK and Ireland, leading the delivery of our Talent Management capabilities which cover Talent Assessment, Leader Development, Organisation Effectiveness and Employee Engagement.
With 13 years Senior HR leadership background, Andy’s experience is across the full spectrum of Talent Management activity having worked in sectors as diverse as the NHS, Telecoms, Travel, Business Process Outsourcing, Technology and Manufacturing. A focus on Organisational Behaviour and Development enables Andy to ensure the processes and change are embedded within an organisation’s management systems.
