May 2, 2008
News reaches Guru that chief among the shocks at this year's PPMA conference (theme 'Evolution or Extiction') in Brighton is the revelation that president Stephen Moir is only 34 years old.
The young whippersnapper has already achieved a lot in his career and has a very high profile job as director of people and policy at Cambridgeshire County Council. Now he has stepped into the job of president there lies a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of one so young.
However, Guru feels that Moir could do with a makeover, Trinny and Susannah style, to further boost his credentials among the fashionista of the HR profession. Guru hears there were gasps of disbelief echoing around the conference when Moir's age was revealed in an article for a local government magazine.
Help could be at hand though. The more stylish ladies of the PPMA's higher echelons have already offered to revamp his image, right down to his socks and haircut. Guru thinks this raises the all too depressing prospect of HR once again being accused of favouring style over substance
Guru also heard on the HR jungle drums that Hertfordshire County Council HR chief and Chelsea fan Alan Warner was bemoaning the cost of a trip to Moscow for the Champions League final.
After a quick scan of the recent Town Hall Rich List which revealed the salaries of senior managers in local government, Guru thinks Warner's only worry might be whether to fly business or first class to Russia...
