Catherine
Parker is the new HR manager at the City Inn, Bristol. She started her role on
2 January and is responsible for all recruitment procedures, the selection and
interview process, staff induction and the ongoing training programme.
She
was previously reservations manager at the hotel. She said, “I am delighted to
be able to offer support and direction to the Bristol team. This will hopefully
result in us achieving Investors in People accreditation.”
Cambridge
Management Consulting the business systems adviser, has appointed James Rieley
as global head of leadership development. Rieley was previously responsible for
the systems dynamics at Arthur Andersen Europe, a post he held for three years.
Before
that he spent 10 years at the Centre for Continuous Quality Improvement in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he became director. Rieley said, “I aim to release
the vision for leadership to create an environment in which all CMC employees
can realise their personal and collective organisational potential.”
Paul
Matthews is leaving HR in local government after 20 years to run a personnel
consultancy. Matthews was instrumental in leading his personnel department at
North-East Lincolnshire LEA through a succcessful Ofsted inspection. The report
said the LEA’s personnel service was the best that had been inspected so far.
Matthews will offer interim management services and personnel services to
schools and work with associates and potential venture capital operators.
Personal
profile
Helen
Neeve is personnel and training manager at the Copthorne Hotel at Gatwick
Airport. She has just been voted HR and training manager of the year by her
company, Millennium Hotels. She has previously worked in HR roles at the Gatwick
Hilton International Hotel and at Grove Leisure Services in Brighton.
What
is the most important lesson you have learnt in your career?
To
keep everyone informed and always communicate. Whether the message is good or
bad, it is best to be informed about what is happening.
What
is the strangest situation you have dealt with at work?
I
have stayed at the here for so long because working in a hotel environment with
employees of all ages and nationalities, something out of the ordinary
invariably happens every day.
If
your house was on fire and you had to save one object, what would it be?
I
collect Moorcroft pottery, some pieces of which have been made in limited
numbers, so I would have to save one of them.
What
is the best thing about working in HR?
Working
in a hotel near Gatwick, recruiting employees from around the world and getting
to know a bit about their cultures and attitudes.
What
is the worst?
Trying
to retain these people when perhaps they only plan to stay in the UK for a
limited time.
You
have stumbled upon a time machine. What historical period would you visit and
why?
My
office is in the 16th century part of the hotel building, so I would like to go
back to the times when it was probably used by smugglers just to see what it
was like.
Who
is your dream boss?
I
have always admired JFK, for his charismatic style of leadership. He was
respected by his peers and inspired great loyalty.
How
do you get to work?
Drive
to work from Uckfield, across Ashdown Forest to Copthorne.
What
is your greatest strength?
Being
organised and efficient.
What
is your greatest weakness?
Being
too organised and efficient.
Top
job
Rachel
Lane has been appointed head of HR at anti-virus protection software company
Sophos.
Lane
joins from Foster Wheeler Energy, where she spent 10 years, most recently as
head of personnel.
In
her new role Lane will reinforce the company’s aim to attract and retain the
most talented employees in its offices around the world.
Sophos
is one of the world’s largest specialist developers of anti-virus software
which is sold, distributed and supported through a global network of
subsidiaries in more than 120 countries.
Her
responsibilities will include aligning company-wide HR programmes with overall
corporate business objectives and strategies.
She
will oversee the company’s worldwide recruitment, employee relations,
compensation and benefits, employee development and management development
activities.
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Lane
said, “One of the most encouraging things I have seen here is that HR is an
integral part of the management process.
“I
have been here seven or eight weeks and I have been very impressed – it is
demanding yet supportive and I am enjoying it immensely.”
