Alison Hodgson has been charged with setting up the resourcing function at catering
firm Sodexho. The focus is on achieving the best value for money in people
processes and practices to help the business meet it’s organisational
objectives. Prior to this role, she was the international resourcing manager at
WorldCom.
What do you hope to achieve in your role?
Through dovetailing with the ‘Sodexho Way Change Programme’ and other
company initiatives, I hope to transform resourcing, from the traditional model
of the past into a modern, forward-looking, specialist HR function that will
achieve our business goals.
What is the strangest situation you have ever been in at work?
Speaking at a conference on behalf of WorldCom during the time the news
broke of the WorldCom fraud scandal.
How do you think the role of HR will change over the next five years?
Less hand-holding and a more specialist consultation-orientated role.
Who is the ultimate guru?
Rudolph Giuliani, as he did a great job on New York.
How do you fill your spare time?
Travelling, catching up with friends and singing as I go.
What is the greatest risk you have taken?
In a job interview for a post I really wanted I was asked about what it was
like to be a personnel manager at a foods company. I replied: ‘Well, you know,
the bananas were always late, the tomatoes would never wear the right uniform
and we had to dismiss the apples last week for crushing the grapes.’ Thankfully
it paid off as I got the job.
What is the essential tool in your job?
My mind and the telephone.
What is the most over-rated tool in the job?
My Palm Pilot as it is always crashing.
Do you network?
Always, every day – my favourite part of the job.
If you could do any job in the world what would it be?
A TV presenter.
Who would play you in a film of your life and why?
Audrey Hepburn, because she was a woman of substance.
What’s the best and worst office party you’ve ever attended?
My redundancy party.
Hodgson’s CV
2003 UK & Ireland resourcing
manager, Sodexho
2000 International resourcing manager, WorldCom
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1999 Assistant vice-president graduate and MBA European
recruitment, SalamonSmithBarney
1994 Assistant personnel manager, Marks & Spencer
