Kay Jones has joined IT network services company Pandi as people director. She joins from the Unity Trust Bank, where she was head of HR and has 15 years’ experience in both public and private sectors.
What are the duties in your new role?
My role is to establish the people function within the organisation, and to develop a strategy to attract and retain talent, which is essential in a services environment. I report to the CEO and, at present, I am the HR team.
What are the challenges HR faces in the next five years?
Ensuring ethical people management practices in what are increasingly competitive times.
What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?
Develop a broad, generalist range of skills and learn as much about the business as possible. Understand what issues your managers face and help them to identify strategies to deal with them.
What are essential tools in your job?
A sense of humour, pragmatism and a belief in people.
What is the worst thing about HR?
Organisations that espouse that ‘people are our greatest asset’ and yet behave in the opposite way.
What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?
Having to gown up (including mask) and go into an operating theatre to persuade a very unhappy doctor to continue with an operation.
What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?
All of it. What is wrong with straight talking?
What is your essential TV viewing?
Coronation Street.
Who would you most dislike to work with?
Margaret Thatcher.
How do you fill your spare time?
With my family and friends, reading and walking.
What was the last book you read?
As I am an avid reader, I have more than one book on the go at any one time. Most recently I read Winning by Jack Welch.
What song gets you on the dance floor?
Roger Sanchez – Another Chance.
What would be your dream job?
A 12-month secondment as a part-time HR director based in Australia.
Who would play you in the film of your life and why?
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Julie Walters – for her professionalism, talent, versatility and humour.
Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?
My daughter Jennifer, who tragically died young and is my inspiration.
Jones’s CV
- 2005 People director, Pandi
- 1998 Head of HR, Unity Trust Bank
- 1997 Deputy personnel director, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust
- 1995 Personnel & facilities director, Royal Orthopaedic Hospitals NHS Trust
- 1984 Various roles, Birmingham Women’s Hospital NHS Trust
