From HR Director to Chief People Officer

The challenge

“Find us an HR Director for a business that needs turning around. And make sure they have the potential to succeed our Group HR Director in the short to medium term.” That was our brief from News UK, one of the world’s leading global media organisations boasting trusted brands such as The Sun, The Sunday Times, Talksport and Virgin Radio.

The solution

News UK retained JSS HR on an exclusive basis to carry out a search for the right person. What made this particularly challenging was the fact we needed to find someone who was both operational and strategic. The individual we put forward came from a FTSE 50 organisation where they were considered a high performer.

The impact

By quickly identifying areas where the business could improve, the new hire made a significant impact. Within one year they were leading a major organisational transformation for the COO in the News UK Head Office in London. They were also key in elevating the platform for Human Resources. As a result of their contribution, they were promoted to Chief People Officer in September 2021.