KnowledgePool, the managed learning services company, has enhanced its strategic consultancy and service delivery capability with the appointment of Al Bird to the newly-created role of Learning Consultancy Director.
Al joins from Accenture, where he spent over 11 years, latterly as Business Development Director of Accenture Learning, responsible for promoting Accenture’s learning and HR outsourcing services across Europe.
After leaving university in 1996, he began his career with Accenture as a Business Analyst & Change Consultant, involved in the instructional design of e-learning solutions.
He spent two years as a Human Performance Manager, scoping, designing and delivering e-learning, systems implementation and business change programmes for clients such as Siemens and BT and then three years as a Senior Solution Architect, designing learning transformation programmes and outsourcing solutions for clients such as the Bank of Ireland and the NHS.
In his new role, working closely with KnowledgePool’s business development team, he will work with prospective clients to define the business case for outsourcing aspects of their L&D activity.
He also joins KnowledgePool’s management team and he will oversee the ongoing development of the company’s market offering.
Paul Jefferson, CEO of KnowledgePool, said:
“After playing a key role in the growth of Accenture’s learning outsourcing practice, Al will be a real asset in helping us to further develop our service offering and win new business. He is a recognised expert on business measurement processes, the alignment of training with business goals and the design and development of blended and e-learning solutions.
“His expertise will help us to continuously improve the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the service we provide to our clients.”
Commenting on his appointment, Al Bird said:
“I’ve been impressed by KnowledgePool’s vision and track record in the managed learning service market and I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute to the next stage of their growth. I look forward to helping KnowledgePool’s clients get the best possible value and productivity return from their ongoing training investments.”
Al holds a Masters in Physics from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Cognitive Ergonomics from University College London.
KnowledgePool has also appointed Mark Swain to its management team.
An Account Director responsible for building new client relationships in financial services, retail, the public sector, FMCG and business services, Mark joined the company in 2007 from Prudential Relocation, a global expatriate and mobility management division of Prudential Financial.
“Mark is a top performer with more than seven years’ experience in HR services and outsourcing,” said Paul Jefferson. “With his professionalism and expertise, he adds to the top-level skills we can provide to address and satisfy the learning and development needs of our clients.”
KnowledgePool has over 40 years’ experience in the training industry.
It manages learning for major clients such as British Airways, Fujitsu Services, the Home Office, Merrill Lynch and Orange.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Working in partnership with in-house learning and development teams, it helps clients to achieve cost reductions and improve the effectiveness and strategic contribution of their learning.
KnowledgePool’s management team comprises Al Bird, Learning Consultancy Director; Lindsay Grieve, COO; Kath Grover, Finance Director; Craig Hyslop, Account Director; Paul Jefferson, CEO; Kevin Lovell, Learning Strategy Director, and Mark Swain, Account Director.
