Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

People NewsHR strategy

Top job: Kay Penney, group HR director, Iron Mountain Europe

by Personnel Today 8 Feb 2005
by Personnel Today 8 Feb 2005

Iron Mountain Europe, an outsourced records and information management services company, has appointed Kay Penney as group HR director. Over the next five years, Penney will spearhead the recruitment drive for a major pan-European expansion.

Where were you working before and what were your duties?

I worked at Centrica as talent director, responsible for the develop-ment and ongoing leadership of the talent management programme throughout the business worldwide.

What will the duties be in your new role?

To lead business development and growth across Europe. Additionally my HR team and I have a partnership role with our line managers to ensure we have the right number of talented people, in the right place, with the right skills to deliver our plans.

How many hours do you work a week on average?

About 60 hours.

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

I believe that HR faces three key challenges – demographics, employee engagement and business partnership.

What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?

‘Game plan’ or ‘downsizing’.

What is the worst thing about HR?

The mindless repetitiveness of some of the core tasks that have to be done well.

Who would you most dislike to work with?

Anyone who is dogmatic, doesn’t listen and is threatened by new ideas.

What is your essential TV viewing?

West Wing – really thought-provoking TV.

How do you fill your spare time?

I like to spend it enjoying the company of my nearest and dearest. I listen to music and like gardening. I am also a committed life member of the Campaign for Real Ale.

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

One of the strangest was discovering it was my responsibility to arrange the rescue of an employee’s son from a San Franciscan cult. I’d missed that in my job description!

What is the essential tool in your job?

A flip chart.

And the most over-rated?

Texting on my mobile phone.

What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?

Speak to as many practitioners as possible to gain a broad view of what can be achieved and how rewarding working in HR is.

What is the homepage on your computer?

At work, the Iron Mountain intranet.

What was the last book you read?

Small Island by Andrea Levy.

What newspaper do you read?

Occasionally, I get the chance to read the Times or the Financial Times. However, I do read a variety of HR magazines to keep up-to-date.

What song gets you on the dance floor?

Smooth by Santana.

What would be your dream job?

Head of HR at Nasa.

Who would play you in the film of your life and why?

Juliette Binoche. She is good at playing characters who have gravitas while enjoying life and the people in their lives.

What is the best office party you have ever attended?

When I was in Germany and I was the only English person in the office, I was asked to host an English tea party. We all had to have food and drink that the team thought the Queen liked – cucumber sandwiches and gin and tonics.

Penney’s CV

2005 Group HR director, Iron Mountain

2002 Talent director, Centrica

1999 Group head of HR development, Centrica

1996 Head of management development, Superdrug

1992 Group head of management development, Campbell’s UK


Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
UK’s ‘most generous boss’ to give millions to charity
next post
HR sidelined as Government ignores importance of people measurement

You may also like

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Use crises as catalysts...

15 Jun 2022

Does a four day week work? Charlotte Lockhart...

1 Jun 2022

Davos 2022: ‘Invest in social jobs to save...

27 May 2022

Davos 2022: Upskilling workers necessary to overcome business...

26 May 2022

Davos hears that ‘wages can rise’ without creating...

26 May 2022

Adapt culture to hybrid work: do not force...

20 May 2022

Women in FTSE 350 leadership: ‘A lot of...

20 May 2022

Squishy, flabby, foggy HR? Andrew Bartlow talks to...

20 May 2022

How the Global Business Mobility visa will overhaul...

14 Apr 2022

How workplace culture should support employees’ wellbeing

13 Apr 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+