The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has begun its search for a successor to replace departing assistant director-general Duncan Brown.
Brown announced last week he would leave the CIPD at the end of March to become a director in the HR practice at consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He said he had always planned to return to the commercial world and PwC was an “exciting opportunity”.
“After five years, now is the right time to move,” Brown said. “The CIPD has established itself as a thought leader in people management and development, and has made great strides in converting thinking into practice.”
Brown’s departure will leave a big hole at the institute at a time when the profession has reached a crucial point in its evolution. He was the CIPD’s main media spokesman and raised its profile.
Brown has spoken regularly on emerging issues such as outsourcing and human capital management. He even waded in last year with his views on sexist comments about female football officials made by Mike Newell, Luton Town’s manager.
Martin Tiplady, director of HR at the Metropolitan Police, said: The CIPD will have to work incredibly hard to find someone of Duncan’s calibre and stature.”
