A former US HR Practitioner of the Year is to lead the expansion of the
on-line knowledge bank goodpractice.net in North America. Tharon Greene,
previously a senior HR director with the City of Hampton, Virginia, has been
appointed goodpractice.net’s chief knowledge officer. Her role will be to
stimulate innovative thinking, research and product design. Goodpractice.net is
due to launch in February.
- Addy Olubajo is the new HR
manager for the electricity company 24seven. Olubajo is aiming to
introduce a new contract system for 24seven’s 2,500 employees. Olubajo
joined from a HR role in West Hampstead Housing and hopes to have the new
system in place prior to 24seven’s proposed stock market flotation in two
years’ time. 24seven was formed due to the merger of Eastern Electricity
and a large electricity company, TXU Europe. - Paul Faupel has been
appointed as the new president of the Institution of Occupational Safety
and Health (IOSH). During his year in the role, Faupel aims to boost the
profile of the institution, which is Europe’s leading body for
occupational health professionals. - After five years as a
freelance HR consultant and locum, Elaine Elliot is joining Field Fisher
Waterhouse as HR director. Field Fisher Waterhouse is a well-established
international firm based in the City specialising in commercial work,
finance, intellectual property, IT and commercial property. Elliot will
focus her efforts on performance management and recognition, as well as
assisting the partners in senior recruitment initiatives.
Top job
Aspect Internet has appointed Richard Boon as human resources director. He
was previously with News, Communications & Media (Newscom) where he held
positions in advertisement sales before moving into human resources as an
employee relations officer. He subsequently became group training manager,
group HR manager and associate director before being appointed director of
human resources in 1998.
Boon said, "Aspect is an exciting challenge and I am delighted to be
offered this opportunity of working with a talented group of individuals at the
cutting edge of technology.
"Previous experience in mergers and acquisitions coupled with wide
generalist HR experience should prove useful to Aspect as the company pursues
its ambitious growth plans."
Aspect Internet is an eServices company based in London. Founded in 1995,
the company now employs about 120 staff and clients include IPC, Emap,
Hollinger and WH Smith.
Personal profile
Kim Freeman is HRD manager, advertising and communications for TMP
Worldwide. She has worked in a variety of personnel roles at companies
including Parcelforce and GAN financial services.
What is the most important lesson that you’ve learnt in your career? Nothing
is impossible – think radically and you can find another way.
If you could change one aspect of the industry you work in, what would it
be? Helping more people in HR understand the opportunities presented by the
Internet, as opposed to seeing it as a threatening, techie tool.
What is the best thing about working in HR?Achieving commercial goals
by enabling people to get the most out of themselves. It’s satisfying on all
fronts.
What is the worst?There are two. Legislation for its own sake and
being mistaken for old personnel – a systems junkie or a social worker.
If you found a time machine hidden in the vaults of your building, what
period in time would you visit and why? The 22nd century – to see how the
Internet worked out.
If you could adopt the management style of an historical character, whose
would you choose and why? It would have to be Shackleton. He had fantastic
purpose and resolve, combined with a passion for people. Sustained effort
impresses me.
What would you do if you had more time? Travel with my children, take
up squash again, go to the theatre more, sleep.
If you wrote a book, which subject would you choose to write about? Generation
Z. X and Y we know about.
What’s your greatest strength? I never give up. And I’m horribly
optimistic.
What’s the greatest risk you ever took? Probably jet skiing with a
four-year-old and a five-year-old.
CV
1998 to date HRD manager, advertising and communications division of TMP
Worldwide.
1997 Training and development manager, GAN Financial Services
1995 Management consultant, independent
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1992 Customer First training and development manager, Parcelforce, national
1990 Personnel and industrial relations manager, Parcelforce, Scotland and
Northern Ireland.
