Anderson is taking over from John Cridland following his promotion to deputy director-general (News, 13 June).
She will focus her attention on European developments, the business manifesto for the next general election and promoting the CBI’s new “Headstart” benchmarking scheme for personnel management.
On Europe she reiterated the CBI’s opposition to compulsory consultation of employees. The CBI led the resistance to the planned law, although it is likely to appear again under the new French presidency.
“There is the possibility of the commission bringing forward further legislation, but there is also a positive agenda in Europe,” said Anderson.
The CBI will urge European partners to back the proposals of the Lisbon summit in March, which emphasised labour mobility and training.
Anderson accepted that Britain lags behind Europe on skills. “The Germans were second or third in the table on literacy and numeracy by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and we were way down the list.”
Cridland’s high-profile role will ensure that training and human resources will be prominent. “I think the appointment reflects just how much of the CBI’s effectiveness relates to what we have been able to achieve on people policy issues,” he said.
Cridland will stay on the Low Pay Commission and as a member of conciliation service Acas. Personnel Today ranked him in its top 10 power players in personnel.
In his new post he will have responsibility for European policy and legal issues, both of which have a heavy HR content.
Digby Jones, CBI director-general, said, “John’s expertise in key policy areas of our work is widely recognised.”
Anderson steps up from head of employee resourcing, one of the three divisions in the employer body’s HR department. It is a conventional appointment, as the CBI tends to promote from within its ranks.
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Opinion, p22
web link www.cbi.org.uk
