Strategic HR Leader and Transformation Expert

Primary specialism: HR Transformation

Markets with deep expertise: UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, South Africa, India. Regional experience across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Languages : English and Afrikaans

Salary expectations: from GBP 250,000 plus benefits

Workforce types directly supported: Engineering, research and development, finance, HR, Supply Chain, marketing legal

Current home country: Switzerland

Mobility Considerations: Able to travel globally and commute to European locations close to Switzerland. Open to relocate to another European location in June 2027

Team management: Indirect reports 60 - 200. Leadership teams with direct reports led 5-12

Current/recent employer: Current: approximately USD 8.4 billion revenue, around 40,000 employees. Previous: approximately EUR 60 billion, around 150,000 employees

Remits of particular interest: As an HR professional with extensive experience in strategic transformation across a wide range of functions—including engineering, scientific, and commercial expertise—I am eager to embrace a new role that allows me to harness my diverse industry knowledge and functional skills. I have successfully collaborated with teams across HR, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, and more, which has equipped me with a holistic understanding of organisational dynamics. I am particularly passionate about leading large-scale transformational projects that address the complexities of multi-country operations and drive meaningful change. My experience enables me to navigate the unique challenges that arise in diverse environments, ensuring that transformation initiatives are not only effective but also sustainable. I am excited to contribute to an organisation that values innovation and is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic growth. I am particularly drawn to positions that challenge the status quo and foster innovative approaches to talent management, organisational development, and cultural transformation. I thrive in dynamic environments where I can collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement strategies that enhance employee engagement and performance and align with overarching business objectives. I am open to exploring opportunities across various industries, as my adaptable skill set enables me to understand and contribute to different organisational contexts quickly. Ultimately, I am eager to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises transformation and is committed to creating a sustainable and impactful HR landscape.

Unique expertise: A distinguished HR Leader and executive coach, I have over 20 years of extensive experience driving strategic growth within renowned global organisations. My expertise encompasses a diverse range of industries, where I have played a pivotal role in aligning talent strategies with overarching business objectives and cultivating high-performance teams in dynamic environments. My strengths are identifying and addressing critical organisational gaps and cultural nuances, drawing from a robust background in retail management and HR. I have a proven track record of leading organisations through complex transformations—including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestments—while optimising operational efficiency by developing effective global operating models.

Commerciality:

• Digital Transformation Advocate: Conducted a comprehensive analysis of HR operations, uncovering a potential USD 23 million in savings and a 32% improvement in productivity. This initiative emphasised data-driven decision-making and an employee-centric approach while addressing risks related to technology expiration and underutilisation.

• Vendor Selection and Cost Savings: Spearheaded a strategic vendor selection process involving five service providers for HR outsourcing, revealing potential savings between USD 32 million and USD 48 million post-investment in critical technologies. This effort focused on a self-funded transition, ensuring budget neutrality in the initial phases.

• Global Payroll Efficiency: Led a thorough payroll analysis across 33 countries, identifying operational complexities, compliance issues, and a 1% error rate translating to USD 15 million in financial impact. This assessment highlighted the need for streamlined payroll solutions to enhance cost-effectiveness.

• Strategic HR Transformation: Rebuilt the HR function by integrating country-specific strategies into a cohesive People Strategy. This transformation repositioned HR as a strategic partner within executive discussions, resulting in a 10% workforce reduction while retaining key talent and investing in five critical capabilities for future growth.

• Organisational Change Management: Demonstrated expertise in navigating complex labour and regulatory landscapes, notably restoring trust with the European Works Council while integrating two larger multinationals with a combined company size of EUR 30 billion.

• Cost-Effective Global HR Transformation: Successfully transformed global function yielding a 40% reduction in HR headcount and annual savings of EUR 5 million. In addition, a strategic revamp of talent acquisition and contractor management processes optimised EUR 68 million in contractor spending, leading to EUR 3.3 million in recruitment cost savings.

• Talent Redistribution and Revenue Growth: Enabled the strategic redistribution of top talent, with the top 2% driving 50% of company revenue, facilitating the achievement of ambitious growth targets. Consolidated global product development sites, generating EUR 33 million in cost savings while ensuring minimal disruption through extensive consultation with Works Councils and trade unions.

Strengths:

• Transformation Expertise: Proven success in leading complex transformations, including M&A and organisational changes.

• Cross-Industry Knowledge: Significant contributions to retail, FMCG, manufacturing, semiconductor, consumer health, and pharmaceuticals.

• Executive Leadership: Sixteen years of effective collaboration with C-Suite teams, fostering trust and cooperation.

• Global Operating Models: Designs effective global models that improve decision-making and performance.

• Digital Transformation Advocate: Achieved substantial productivity improvements through data-driven HR operations.

• Cost Savings Initiatives: Identified potential savings of USD 32 - USD 48 million through strategic vendor selection and HR outsourcing.

• Payroll Efficiency: Conducted comprehensive payroll analysis, revealing $15 million in financial impact from operational improvements.

• Strategic HR Integration: Rebuilt HR function to align with business strategy, resulting in a 10% workforce reduction while retaining key talent.

Need to know: Unlocking Strategic Growth through Transformative HR Leadership. With over 20 years of experience, I successfully align talent strategies with business objectives, driving operational efficiency and substantial cost savings in complex, global environments.

Would you like more details on this professional, to fill a potential gap in your HR team? 

CMTS reference: 44939