Carol Kavanagh joins Argos as director of HR. She previously worked for
Storehouse, where she was group HR director. She managed the personnel issues
involved in the sale of BhS when Mothercare was set up as a separate plc.
Before this, Kavanagh spent seven years at Safeway, where her last position was
director of HR for central divisions.
HR specialist Alyson Fell has joined the Midlands office of business
advisers Andersen. She is the former expatriate manager of automotive and
aerospace group TRW in Birmingham. At Andersen, she will be part of the
International Employment Solutions team helping companies to deal with issues
involved in employing staff overseas.
Investors in People UK has announced the appointment of Amin Rajan, Ed
Sweeney and Garry Hawkes to the board. Rajan is chief executive of the Centre
for Research in Employment and Technology in Europe. Sweeney is the general
secretary of Unifi. Hawkes is a leading figure in the catering industry who has
served as president of the British Hospitality Association.
Neil MacIntosh has become group HR director of Dairy Crest. He joins from
Pfizer, where he was head of HR. He has previously worked for Kingfisher,
Scottish and Newcastle, and Napier University, Edinburgh. MacIntosh will be
responsible for all aspects of HR for the dairy food group.
Top Job
Karen Morris has been appointed head of HR for outsource telebusiness agency
Telecom Express. Established in 1989, Telecom Express works with over 200
clients, including Powergen, Norwich Union and One2One.
Morris joins from Internet connectivity provider Globix.com where she was
European HR director. Her main role will be to work with the board to develop
and deliver the strategic and operational HR plans that will support the
business as it grows.
Morris has spent the past eight years specialising in growth and change
management. She said, "We have a vision that would gain us a reputation
for being a top local employer and best national employer of call centre staff.
We plan to work with the community and our internal colleagues in the business
to find the best practice solution that works for us all. We come from creative
routes and are looking for creative solutions. I suppose I want to achieve the
‘wow’ factor."
She added, "It’s a new challenge to understand the community and our
business needs. We need to value and balance both to ensure a healthy ongoing
relationship. I see it as the next step to work-life balance."
Personal Profile
Nick Foyle, 48, has been appointed as director of learning and development
for KPMG Transaction Services. He has wide ranging experience in retail
banking, investment banking and insurance
What is the most important lesson you have learnt in your career?
Recognising when it is appropriate to bend with the wind.
What is the strangest situation you have had to deal with at work?
As part of one of my previous jobs, I was a fire marshall for a building in
London, and was responsible for ensuring an orderly evacuation whenever we had
a fire or bomb alert. On one occasion, we had an IRA bomb alert and the
building was evacuated. When I checked an office on one floor, I found a couple
in an extremely compromising position. I informed them that it was a genuine
alert and not a drill. They made it very clear that I was the one that should
evacuate the building – so I did. I had to report that they refused to leave
the building, but I never explained the reason why.
If your house was on fire and you could save one object, what would it be?
My Palmtop computer – it’s got all my data in it.
If you had three wishes to change your company, what would they be?
It’s just too early to say.
What is the best thing about working in HR?
Being able to help people become better at what they do.
What is the worst?
Politics and personal agendas.
You have stumbled upon a time machine hidden in the vaults of your
company building. What period would you visit and why?
I’d go back to meet Christ, just to see what he was really like.
If you could adopt the management style of a historical character, whose
would you adopt and why?
Atilla the Hun, because he was able to unite 100 different tribes into one
nation with a common vision.
How do you get to work?
On foot and by train.
If you were to write a book, which subject would you choose to write
about?
My version of the Kennedy assassination.
What would you do if you had more spare time?
Write my book.
What is your greatest strength?
I’m flexible.
What is your least appealing characteristic?
I’m impatient, and sometimes I let it show.
What is the greatest risk you ever took?
Setting up my own business.
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CV: Nick Foyle
1991-2001 Senior partner, F&U Associates
1988-1991 Training projects executive, Prudential
1986-1988 Training manager, Lehman Brothers
1979-1986 Settlements manager, operations co-ordinator, training officer,
Merrill Lynch
1971-1979 Manager, Midland Bank
