Tell us a little more about yourself and your role

I have been Group HR Director since 1995 having previously worked within Bupa’s hospitals division and prior to that spent a number of years with Citibank. I work closely with the Chief Executive and the senior team to make sure that we have the right people in the right environment and the right structures to enable Bupa to achieve its strategic goals. In addition, I work closely with some of the non-executive directors, particularly the Chairman, primarily around matters of executive reward.

Describe your leadership style

I like to work with intelligent, energetic professionals and then give them the room to deliver. I believe in treating people fairly, trusting them and encouraging them to be as good as they can be. I like to set the context for what needs to be done and then allow those with the specialist skill and expertise to come up with the ideas and deliver.

As a strong brand in the global health and care community, what will Bupa do to create a compelling employee proposition over the next few years?

Creating a compelling employee proposition will be even more important over the next few years as the market becomes increasingly competitive for skilled, talented individuals. Organisations need to be clear about their proposition and communicate that in an engaging way. I think it is also going to be important to understand the requirements of the new generation - generation Y - and not create a proposition based on assumptions from previous generations.

Structurally, how will HR meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of your employees especially given your international dynamic?

I think that increasingly we will have to separate true HR consultancy from HR operations. HR people will require an in-depth understanding of business, particularly the business in which they operate. We certainly will require more people in HR who have lived and worked in other countries, thereby gaining first-hand experience of other cultures and environments.

Can you characterise the ideal HR professional that Bupa will recruit?

The HR professional that Bupa will recruit in the future will be someone who is very business focussed, knows how to challenge appropriately and who can influence effectively through intellect and energy. They will need to have a level of ability in people management matters that will significantly outstrip that of a capable line manager.

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