People

Not
only is Terry O’Brien an award winning HR director, she also manages to find
time for reading, visiting the theatre and a rigorous exercise programme.

She
has just taken up a new role as the group HR director for Kingston
Communications after spending much of her career in the construction industry.

Kingston
is a UK-based communications company which encompasses a broad portfolio of
voice, data, Internet, mobile and managed services. "It was a different
sector for me and I was interested in the new technology aspect of the group.
It’s a good group of companies that has great potential for growth," she
says.

O’Brien
moves from Balfour Beatty where she received acclaim for her HR, training and
communications programmes and was short-listed in the Personnel Today Awards
last year.

Her
success is driven by her passion for HR and she is firmly committed to helping
develop talent in the workforce.

"The
aspect of HR I enjoy most is developing people and giving them the tools to add
to their own knowledge. I also really enjoy the variety," she says.

In
her new role, she is looking forward to implementing her own ideas and
philosophy.

"I
want to create a culture where everybody helps deliver the business plan,"
she said. "If everybody does that, it ultimately means that the company
will achieve its brand mission.

"This
is an exciting time for the company and my initial focus will be to build on
the good work that has already been done to ensure we attract, retain and develop

CV

2001
Group HR director, Kingston Communications

1998
HR director, Balfour Beatty

1997
Head of HR, Tarmac quarry products

1995
HR development manager, Tarmac Construction

On
the move

Alan
Crozier has joined Watson Wyatt and will lead European communication consulting
for its human capital group. He will combine his current role as human capital
group leader with wider responsibility for thought leadership across Europe.
Crozier joined the company in 1999 and prior to that led Mercer’s communication
practice in the north.

Insurance
company CMG Admiral has appointed Darren Gardner as a senior consultant in its
human resources and payroll services sector. He joins from Rebus and has more
than 10 years’ experience in the industry. Gardner will be responsible for
securing sales from large organisations, where he will focus on selling
combined HR and payroll services to new customers.

Interim
management provider Leading Edge has recruited David Bateson to its team of
consultants. He has been appointed as the new director of client services as
the company aims to expand in its third year of trading. He joins the team from
Kettlefish and prior to that he worked at Macmillan Davies Hodes.