CBI director-general Richard Lambert sees HR professionals as key to the future of business

CBI director-general Richard Lambert has insisted that HR professionals hold the key to businesses’ future fortunes.

“We are in a world now – and will be even more so in 10 years’ time – where the difference between success and failure for companies will be the quality of their human capital,” he exclusively told Personnel Today.

“Ten years ago companies succeeded or failed on the way they used their physical infrastructure: their factories, logistics systems and supply chains. Now and increasingly so it is down to the ability to identify, attract, train and retain the best talent.”

	Listen to CBI director general Richard Lambert’s comments on HR’s future
“The role of HR people is of increasing importance and wise companies will keep that at the centre of their strategic plans for the future”

Lambert said he could see more HR professionals on main company boards in the future, but that it was up to them to make their case to chief executives.

“The role of HR people is of increasing importance, and wise companies will keep that at the centre of their strategic plans for the future,” he said.

A full interview will appear in Personnel Today, 4 September 2007.