Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Careers in HRMovers and shakersThe HR profession

Top job: Inji Duducu HR director, UK & Northern Europe, CPP

by Personnel Today 3 Jun 2008
by Personnel Today 3 Jun 2008

Where were you working before, and what were your responsibilities?

I was head of HR for HBOS Insurance. As one of the management board, I was responsible for ensuring our people and organisational capabilities were aligned to our business goals.

What qualifications do you hold?

A BSc in psychology and CIPD qualifications.

What are the duties in your new role?

As part of the UK leadership team, I have a broad HR remit, including people strategy, payroll and operational training.

What are the main challenges HR faces in the next five years?

As a profession I don’t think we have a strong pipeline of people with business partnering skills, and that’s a key enabler for everything else we need to achieve.

What is the most overrated tool in your job?

Almost any form – I’m not a forms person.

And what work tool would you like to see invented?

A teleport machine.

What is the worst thing about HR?

Too often HR entering a room is a cue for everyone to stop being creative and having fun.

How do you wind down after a bad day in the office?

Playing with my son and endlessly reading whatever his favourite book is that day.

What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?

Probably the time I was asked to adjudicate on whether or not a couple who were meeting for sex in the disabled toilets should be disciplined.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Irritable when hungry

What was your lucky break?

Being HR manager for HFS â€“ my first broad HR role. At the time I thought I was the perfect candidate but I look back and realise I had no experience. The managing director took a huge risk by appointing me and remains a great friend and mentor.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Former US president Bill Clinton, the late Body Shop founder and environmental campaigner Anita Roddick, illusionist Derren Brown and comedian Ricky Gervais.

What advice would you give someone starting out in HR?

Get close to your clients and really understand the people who do the jobs that make the money or serve the customers, and have an opinion on things outside the people agenda.

What job would you like your child to do?

Whatever makes him happy.

What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?

Getting the HFS board to write on bananas to prompt a discussion on innovation. It did not go well, and I had people leaving fruit on my desk for weeks afterwards.

Sum up your philosophy on life in one sentence.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

Duducu’s CV



  • Mar 2008-present – HR director, UK & Northern Europe, CPP (life assurance)
  • Oct 2005-Mar 2008 – Head of HR, HBOS Insurance
  • Mar 2003-Oct 2005 – Head of HR, retail processing and central functions, HBOS
  • Feb 2001-Mar 2003 – HR manager, Halifax Financial Services (long term savings, life and pensions)

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Union quest for workers’ rights continues despite raft of legislation
next post
Maternity leave guide published by HM Revenue and Customs

You may also like

Why HR burnout is a strategic issue

12 May 2025

CIPD appoints expert in AI to boost support...

8 May 2025

Stress for HR specialists greater at larger organisations

2 May 2025

CIPD: Employment Rights Bill timetable needs clarity

25 Apr 2025

Movers and shakers in HR: Stagecoach, Sodexo UK,...

11 Apr 2025

Senior HR pay rising faster than junior roles

28 Mar 2025

Employee Benefits Awards 2025 shortlist revealed

24 Mar 2025

What do HR specialists enjoy most about their...

21 Mar 2025

Law firm HR professional embroiled in ‘anti-Islam’ row

12 Mar 2025

Mitie appoints Kathryn Dolan as chief people officer

6 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+