Neil Morrison

With responsibility spanning the commercial strategy teams, through internal and external communications and PR, corporate and social responsibility and HR and OD. Focused on helping the organisation to identify and develop opportunities for sustainable organic growth both in the UK and internationally.

Following the merger of Random House (where I was HR Director) and Penguin, I was appointed to the role of HR Director for the combined business. A main board role with responsibility for the UK and international responsibility for APAC, India and South Africa as well as European offices.

Leading the people aspects of the integration and working with the CEO and others on the development of Penguin Random House as the first of a new kind of publisher. Creating an employment offering that takes the best of both companies heritage and combines it this with forward thinking and innovative work practices.

Key achievements post merger have included:
- Formation and integration of the senior executive team
- Successfully harmonising employee benefits through the use of a flexible benefits scheme
- Redeveloping the compensation schemes including base pay, STIP and LTIP
- Restructuring of the organisation
- Design of an organisational development framework to support the development of the new organisational culture and behaviours
- Realisation of significant first year HR related synergies through the successful integration and restructuring of the HR team
- Systems integration and development

A member of the main board, responsible for the strategic people issues across the Random House Group in both publishing and distribution with offices in the UK, Australia, India and New Zealand.

Responsibility for devising and leading the people strategy for the business, covering all aspects of HR management in the UK and overseas. Leading a change programme supporting the organisation to become prepared for future industry changes as a result of new models, technology and partners. Providing support guidance and leadership to the Board and Executive on all people matters and acting as coach to the CEO and Deputy CEO.

Leading the HR team to provide support across publishing and distribution and providing a lead role to overseas operations. Main board responsibilities. I was the HR lead in the run up to the merger with Penguin, looking after the "Rest of World" (outside North America) and working on the due diligence and merger preparation.

Key achievements include:
- Leading the transformation of the organisation into the digital world
- Radically changing and invigorating the learning and development strategy to deliver business focussed development at all levels
- Defining and improving the compensation and benefit strategy balancing flexibility with consistency
- Reorganisation and realignment of the HR function to provide improved business support and greater HR management capability
- Continuous successful Union negotiations including renegotiating the overall agreement
- Developing an integrated talent management strategy and associated activities both internally and externally
- Developing Board and Executive leadership capability through group and one to one activities
- Leading a programme of organisational wide restructures and cost savings which prepared the business to successfully navigate the economic downturn

Corporate HR Manager leading a team of HR Managers and Advisors supporting corporate functions across the business. Part of the senior HR management team. Key achievements included the development of a graduate leadership programme and the research and implementation of a Group wide approach to measuring employee engagement.

I held various roles within Argos including generalist and specialist, field based and head office based, in the UK and Ireland. Specialisms included Employee Relations, Resourcing and Learning and Development. Key achievements included leading a business wide store restructure generating £10m annualised savings, leading a comprehensive review of employer branding and EVP, developing a shared service centre for employment relations and introducing technology solutions that improved efficiency by 50%.

A generalist role providing HR support to outsourced facilities services in a range of clients from FTSE100 businesses such as Nokia, Total and BP to Government Agencies. Responsible for the south of the UK as well as leading several company wide HR projects.

A generalist, entry level, HR role looking after the Facilities and Estates staff amongst others as they transferred to a private sector partner as part of a PFI deal.