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 shakersRecruitment & retentionJob descriptionsThe HR profession

Top job – Maria Ferguson, Director of HR, Aspers Group

by Louisa Peacock 6 Aug 2007
by Louisa Peacock 6 Aug 2007

Where were you working before and what were your duties?
As a business partner at Royal Bank of Scotland, I worked with five executive committees across 14 of the bank’s brands, to provide growth and change management strategies. I also worked on integrating acquired companies into the bank’s infrastructure.

What qualifications do you hold?
Masters in Business Administration (MBA); post-graduate degree in marketing; British Psychology Society Levels A and B in psychometric assessment.

What are the duties in your new role?
I am responsible for setting the HR agenda for the group, with growth strategies as a priority. We are currently reviewing the HR infrastructure, consisting of an outsourcing model with training, payroll and a general HR team. I report to the managing director.

What are the main challenges HR faces in the next five years?
The ability to embrace changing working practices and maximise the potential of virtual teams. Also, leadership – employees want to be inspired and challenged to achieve, not directed.

What is the essential tool in your job?
My PDA.

And the most overrated?
E-mail. Although useful, it hinders one of the most rewarding things in life – meeting with people face to face.

What is the worst thing about HR?
Its tendency to support rather than lead business.

What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?
A bemused look by a colleague at a finance meeting when I began counting aloud in Spanish without realising. I revert to my native tongue when working with numbers.

Who is your ultimate hero?
Richard Branson. I like his casual style and driven entrepreneurial spirit.

What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?
‘Quick wins’. To me, quick wins are the botox of business – all superficial, and the issue will likely resurface.

How do you fill your spare time?
I enjoy power walking, golf and reading. My two boys and husband are at the centre of my life though – having fun at home is essential when you have a hectic job.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Entrepreneurial, risk-taker and optimistic.

What are your favourite web pages?
Times Online and BBC Online.

What song gets you on the dance floor?
Living La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin.

What is your worst habit?
I like playing devil’s advocate.

What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
Leaving Costa Rica, Central America (my home) at the age of 22 and coming to England on my own. Twenty-three years later, I have not once regretted the decision.

What three items would you take with you on a desert island?
A never-ending bar of chocolate that won’t melt; my toothbrush; and some Campari.

Who would play you in the film of your life and why?
A curvaceous Latino, full of passion for life – such as actress Salma Hayek (left).

CV

May 2007-present
Director of HR, Aspers Group (leisure and entertainment)

Nov 2004-Mar 2007
Business partner, Royal Bank of Scotland Group (global banking and financial services)

Jul 2004-Nov 2004
Interim consultant, Environment Agency

Aug 1994-Jun 2004
Managing director, Futurus (HR and general management consultancy)

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.

Jan 1992-Aug 1994
Commercial operations manager, Ives and Company (IBM partner providing ERP software solutions)

Tell us – about your top job…
Have you just landed a fantastic new job? E-mail [email protected] with all the details.




Louisa Peacock

previous post
True equality will take nearly 80 years, says Department for Communities and Local Government Select Committee
next post
Managers lack skills to handle homeworkers and flexible working

You may also like

Richard Tice: ‘pathetic’ to put HR manager in...

26 Jun 2025

Movers and shakers in HR: Asda, BBC, FSB,...

26 Jun 2025

Graduate jobs this summer ‘will be toughest since...

25 Jun 2025

Employers struggling with soaring candidate deception

25 Jun 2025

HR underprepared for likely increase in M&A activity

24 Jun 2025

With HR absence rising, is your people team...

24 Jun 2025

UK engineering and manufacturing firms face hiring struggles

23 Jun 2025

Aldi to hire for 1,000 new supermarket roles

23 Jun 2025

Only a third of recruiters receive high-quality job...

20 Jun 2025

Number of new nurses from abroad falls by...

18 Jun 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...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+