Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Movers and shakersCareers in HRLatest NewsThe HR profession

Movers and shakers: HR appointments – Ann Pickering to step down from O2 role

by Adam McCulloch 24 Jan 2020
by Adam McCulloch 24 Jan 2020 Catherine Leaver, HR director, O2
Catherine Leaver, HR director, O2

Personnel Today’s update of recent appointments in the human resources world includes a new HR director for O2.


Leaver arriving, Pickering leaving

O2 has announced the departure of Ann Pickering who is stepping down from her roles as chief HR officer and chief of staff after 16 years in the business. O2’s Catherine Leaver (pictured, left)) is appointed to the executive team as HR director starting in April. Pickering led on gender parity on the company’s UK board and a significant increase to paid paternity leave, taking the company policy to 14 weeks’ paid for all permanent employees.

Leaver has worked for Telefonica Group in HR roles in Germany and the UK since 2005, latterly as global transformation director. She is a graduate of Aston and Birmingham University and has also worked at Compass Group and Tech Data. Pickering is focusing on non-executive roles outside of O2: among roles she lists on LinkedIn are trustee of Breast Cancer Now and Step Up To Serve and visiting professor of human resource management and employability at Sheffield University Management School.

In a statement, Pickering (pictured, left) said she was happy to see Leaver taking on her new role: “This was a tremendously difficult decision, but it’s the right time for the business, the right time for me and importantly the right time for Catherine. I’m so pleased to see her moving up into this role and I’m sure she will bring the energy and dedication our people truly deserve.”

Leaver announced: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the executive team at O2. I have spent the last two years working closely with Ann and I’m looking forward to building on the fantastic work she has started.”


A man with facility

Chris TownsendFacility provider ABM UK has appointed Chris Townsend as senior director of HR for the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. For the past 10 months Townsend has worked in a contractor role to support company’s UK HR team. Initial priorities are set to include driving greater alignment in the UK with a new HR operating model in areas such as talent, rewards and HR shared services, while leading the company’s HR business partners. He was previously HR director at Renaissance Services SAOG, an international facilities management and service solutions company, where he supported the transformation of the business in Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Prior to this, Chris spent over 15 years at Mitie Cleaning & Environmental Services, where he led the HR organisation in the UK.


Looks good on the CV

Matthew MooreIndependent jobs board CV-Library has chosen the company’s former finance and HR director Matthew Moore as managing director. Prior to joining CV-Library, Moore was senior finance contractor at credit solutions provider CapQuest and before that, finance director at preschool provider Casterbridge Nurseries. He gained professional qualifications at Ashridge Business School, Birmingham University and the Institute of Chartered Accountants.


See more Movers and Shakers, from 6 January 2020, 18 December 2019 and 10 December 2019

Changing role or know someone who has, in the HR arena? Let us know…

[email protected]

 

Adam McCulloch
Adam McCulloch

Adam McCulloch is a freelance writer and production editor who has worked in sectors including travel (The Guardian), aviation (Flight International), agriculture (Farmers' Weekly), music (Jazzwise), theatre (The Stage) and social work (Community Care). He also works for a national newspaper and is the author of KentWalksNearLondon

previous post
Cost of poor mental health to employers up 16% in three years, argues report
next post
CBI leads 40 industry bodies calling for salary threshold rethink

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Law protecting frontline workers against violence takes effect

28 Jun 2022

Postal workers and doctors threaten strikes over pay

28 Jun 2022

Heathrow-based cabin crew set for 18% pay rise

28 Jun 2022

Attracting diverse young talent to the ‘secret’ world...

28 Jun 2022

Four-day week: what are the legal considerations for...

28 Jun 2022

Hire quality vs speed: Finding the perfect balance...

28 Jun 2022

Gender pay gap ‘won’t close until 2151’

27 Jun 2022

Third of employees living ‘payday to payday’

27 Jun 2022

PwC to award inflation-busting pay increase

27 Jun 2022

Barristers walk out in protest over fees

27 Jun 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+