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AUGUST  2003

Curriculum  VitaE

 

Martin Whitthread DMS FCIPD

 

 

"Business Effectiveness - Accentuating the Human Resource"

A strongly commercial Human Resources Director with extensive hands-on executive team and business consulting experience across industry sectors.   A pragmatic problem-solver providing insightful interventions that simplify, cut through complex issues and deliver well-planned solutions.

 

Corporate Highlights

 

 

 

Key Achievements

 

 

 

Professional Background and Accomplishments

International experience is indicated by the appropriate National flag or the EU flag.

 

Cable & Wireless Global                                                                       November 2000 - June 2003 

Vice President, Human Resources - Transformation (previously: HR VP Global Network Operations)

 

A global player in Voice, Data and Internet Hosting & IP services.  Led Transformation and Programmes for the Global business of >10,000 staff; previously led HR for Global Networks of 3,500 staff and C&W Group directors.

 

4   Executed global change initiatives guiding several major organisation changes delivering massive global downsizing whilst retaining business effectiveness across UK, Europe, US and Japan

4   Guided the transformation of HR in response to a root-&-branch corporate restructuring, the outsourcing of base-line functions and the introduction of e-enabled HR systems through SAP

4   Led the integration of Operations staff from 14 acquisitions across Europe into “Global”

4   Oversaw C&W’s yardstick outsource of Build functions with required Quality & variable costs

4   Directed Learning & Development initiatives including the £1M e-enablement of Learning Management for >10,000 users growing usage to over 3,000 courses a quarter

 

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Short-term roles, Consulting and Interim Assignments                                 June 1998 - Oct 2000 

These roles and assignments were conducted, in part, in parallel.  Principal clients were:

 

Wide Learning.   Vice President People & Information

A pre-IPO financial e-Learning business offering internet/intranet-based training to banks and corporates

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AccentUK.  M&A, Process Re-design and Business Management

A £10m Communications firm integrating an acquisition and broadening its "family-firm" management.

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Hays plc. Hays Mail & Express.  HR Strategy and Executive Team selection

The core of Hays plc's Business Services group growing through acquisition across the EU.

 

SITEL Corporation, SITEL Europe plc.  Senior Vice President, Human Resources

A $600m global CRM business  with 6 European businesses employing c.6,000 staff.  I was responsible for all HR matters across Europe.

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Main accomplishments:

4     Led people & culture integration across acquired & merged businesses in France, Spain, UK, Benelux and Sweden, also developing & implementing global HR policies and practices

4     Resolved contract conflicts to Board level with Phillips saving > £2M in TUPE related transfers

4     Coached members of two Company executive teams/boards on effective style and interaction

4     General management of an experimental service-line guiding early progress and business “fit”

4     Executed £1m Hiring campaigns emphasising selection of country managers and balanced teams

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AT&T Corporation - AT&T Europe Middle East & Africa                                            1993 to June 1998 

Human Resources Director – EMEA

 

A premier communications company, AT&T built UK/Europe presence in the 1990’s with the UK as its &T’s only full-function business outside the US with $400m revenue and 40% of the corporation’s non-US staff.

 

Joined AT&T to establish HR and launch a Europe Communications business within a year.  Promoted to the UK Management Board in 1995 reporting to the President and EVP HR in New Jersey.  Led consolidation of UK businesses and both UK& EMEA HR functions.  Grew the UK workforce to 3,000 and was instrumental in creating the UniWorld JV, the AT&T Communications (UK) start-up and the sale of none-core businesses.

 

 

4   Intervened to address management culture and leadership re-aligning the UK business through an OD initiative focussed at the top 100 managers yielding marked rise in employee satisfaction

4   Core Team member delivering a Customer Satisfaction survey engaging direct with key-customers

4   Instituted single Terms & Conditions in 6 months plus 'broad-banding, Hay evaluation and compensation benchmarking supported by the launch of Intranet with HR services and CbT access

4   Achieved recognition of AT&T UK in two leading 1996/7 “Best Employer” publications

4   Oversaw divestments ensuring the maintenance of Employee Relations equilibrium

4   Directed AT&T Comms (UK)'s start-up strategy with 600 hires + 2-300 transfers a year

4   Directed HR aspects of JV formation from project plan and strategy to service delivery

4   Managed budgets of over $5m and built/consolidated HR teams up to 40 line reports

 

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HR Consulting, Locum and Interim  Assignments                                                         1992 - 1993 

 

Assignments across sectors including Dowty-Case; Jewson; Lombard-Tricity Finance and London School of Economics culminating in a short assignment for AT&T leading to a permanent role. 

 

4   Designed and launched Performance Management in financial services & retail sectors

4   Established Compensation structures for sales teams; redundancy support & job-search coaching

4   Designed/tutored HR Workshops for an LSE Masters programme

 

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Epson Europe bv.    EPSON (UK) Limited                                                                            1989 - 1991 

Head of Human Resources and Member of the Board

Epson’s Printer & PC sales exceeded £110m pa for the UK and through a Danish subsidiary.  Within the Management Board reporting to the MD, also supported the Europe factory and HQ.  Ultimately, developed a business "turn-round" plan within a small team and led transformation reversing a £14M loss.

4   Built & realised a Business Plan, strategy and organisation re-aligning product ranges and channels also reducing staff by 35% whilst maintaining IR & managing the Japanese parent

4   Led on-time/on-budget logistics relocation; re-staffed and introduced new processes and factory link

4   P&L responsibility for Customer/channel training delivering profit from Distributors & corporate bids

 

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Cullinet Software Inc.    Cullinet Europe Corporation                                                             1988 - 1989 

Human Resources Manager, Europe

A Client-Server and Enterprise Computing firm of 350 staff and $60M revenues in 10 countries.  Managing a team across UK, Germany, Benelux, France, Spain and Scandinavia, led HR, developing & implementing pan-Europe strategies.  Computer Associates acquired & assimilated Cullinet in 1989.

4   Planned & implemented Europe-wide pay and rewards, Employee Orientation and Appraisal

4   Computerised HR reporting systems for Europe and managed all expatriate issues

4   Managed HR issues arising from Cullinet's acquisition working closely with the acquiring company

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Early Roles and Experience                                                                                             1974 - 1988 

 HR career began in the NHS then joining TRW in the, now, Automotive – Fastening Systems subsidiary leading HR.  Built on that manufacturing/engineering experience, joining Plessey heading Resourcing & Development for the Defence Communications & Systems businesses.  Main successes included:

 

4  Lead management change & team-building utilising Blake & Mouton's "Grid".

4  Instigated Semi-autonomous production work groups gaining 10% gains in Quality and productivity.

4  Executed PC-based job-evaluation, Job-pricing and Performance Management. 

4  Developed an "Added-Value" (gain-sharing) reward plan to motivate during a period of major change.

 

 

Professional Credentials & Education

 

Post experience Programmes:   Trompenaas Hampden Turner   -  Multi-cultural Management Masterclass	2000
London Business School.            -  Leadership for Change Programme	1996
Management Centre Europe,       -  International Human Resources Management	1990
Blake & Mouton                               -  Organisation Design & Teamwork (Managerial Grid)	1984
Professional Accreditation   Fellow (FCIPD) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development	1991
Academic Attainment   Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies (with Distinction)    The, (now) Thames Valley University Business School	1985-87

 

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© Martin Whitthread 2003
Last Revised: 06/08/2003