Jill Mead

Experience

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  Signet

  Feb 1985 - Feb 1999

  Store Manager
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  MyTravel

  Feb 1999 - Jan 2004

  • HR Business Partner

    May 2001 - Jan 2004

  • Area Sales Manager

    Feb 1999 - Dec 2001
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  MyTravel / Thomas Cook

  Jan 2003 - Dec 2007

  Head of HR - Retail (Going Places travel agents) and Contact Centres

  Designed and delivered HR plans to support retail business - 4000 employees , 500 stores and 4 contact centres, leading team of 12 HR professionals. Facilitated closer integration of HR and operational teams resulting in an overall improvement in business performance through various people initiatives both within the retail and call centre network. Developed and executed retail and call centre plans to ensure smooth transition of merger and subsequent TUPE transfer to Thomas Cook. Show less

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  Otto UK

  Feb 2008 - Feb 2010

  Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development

  FGH is the UK division of the Otto Group’s retailing business, operating the Freemans, Grattan, Kaleidescope, and Oli catalogue and on-line channels. Annual turnover of £460m. A workforce of 6000, 2 office locations, 3 warehouse facilities, 2 contact centres and 15 retail stores restructured during this tenure to 800 people, 2 offices, 1 warehouse, 1 contact centre and closure of the retail stores. I led team of 15 HR professionals and was responsible for the HR provision to the UK business. Worked with the CEO and Board of Directors to implement a company- wide business turnaround project to deliver a more effective business model and digital transformation initiative. Business restructed from 6000 employees to 1000 over a 15 month period. I was also responsible for the business redesign following the turnaround project to ensure that the business was structured appropriately in terms of resource and cost. Implementing a HR Business Partner model ensured closer alignment of the HR function to the business and created a more commercially focused HR team. Show less

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  Transactis

  Mar 2010 - Sept 2013

  HR Director

  Transactis was a data and insight technology business within the Shop Direct Group of companies however operated independently with its own Board of Directors. Based in Liverpool with a satellite office in Richmond and employed circa 500 people. I was responsible for the HR strategy and colleague experience within the business whilst managing the transfer of the print and mail operation to a 3rd party. Working with the Board of Directors I created and developed a commercial HR function to a team of 3 to identify and drive key HR value drivers. Show less

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  Convergys

  Oct 2013 - Jul 2015

  HR and Recruitment Director

  Convergys was a US global management services business with 130,000 employees across the globe. Convergys acquired Stream in March 2014 and is now the second largest BPO business in the world. I provided HR Leadership for the UK and Ireland division with integration responsibilities across the EMEA region. Working closely with the functional VP's, my role was to manage the people implications of the acquisition first by Stream and then latterly Convergys. I was responsible for a team of circa 45 HR and recruitment professionals ensuring the function delivered the value drivers for the UK and Ireland sites. Show less

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  Travel Counsellors

  Aug 2015 - Oct 2018

  Global HR Director

  Travel Counsellors is a successful global award-winning independent travel business. Private Equity backed with headquarters in Manchester, and operating from 7 countries. I provided HR Leadership for the Global business with a headcount of 1800 people (franchise owners and employees). My role was to ensure the business was positioned well for growth and to facilitate the transition of the business from being family owned to a PE backed business. This included implementing contemporary HR and learning initiatives to support the evolution of the culture and drive high performance whilst ensuring a best in class colleague experience. Show less

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  Martin James Group

  Mar 2019 - Jul 2019

  Organisational Development Director

  My role is to work with the leaders to support the launch of the Groups Vision and Values, and to develop the culture that brings together all the different entrepreneurial businesses under one umbrella - the Martin James Group. We've introduced disruptive ways of working and challenged the HR norm to help us be the best place to work! The business not only has a talented bunch of leaders representing each individual commercial business who are in turn guided by the inspirational leadership of the Chairman, it also works all over the world to improve outcomes for children and young people in safe and caring environments that helps them to lead successful lives. Something I am really passionate about! Whilst supporting the business I have also been building a new business to sit within the Martin James Group and I'm very excited to be leading that with the fabulous support of the Chairman! Coming very soon! Show less

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  TalkOut

  Jun 2019 - Nov 2020

  Co-Founder and Managing Director

  TalkOut is a business with a mission: To make it Ok to not be Ok. 1 in 4 people are affected by mental health issues every year and many people feel like they can’t talk about how they are feeling at work. We want to break the stigma of mental health and get everyone talking about it! TalkOut are change-makers and we have a talented and professional team of dedicated people who are here to support you in the workplace. We understand what its like to not feel ok and want you to know that you don’t have to feel alone at work. If you are a Leader of a business who is passionate about the health and wellbeing of your teams or an individual who would like to learn more then get in touch and we’ll be there with you every step of the way. #proudtotalkout #makeachange Show less

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  WeTalkToo

  Nov 2020 - now

  Founder and Director

  WeTalkToo is an organisation that has a passion for workplace mental health. We work with organisations to create workplace cultures where talking about mental health is encouraged and supported in the right way. Many organisations care about the mental health of their employees however really don't know where to start and that's where we can help. From consultancy to training we will work with you to create initiatives that are sustainable, effective and that promote positive mental health and wellbeing. Not only is it the right thing to do by your people but there are some significant commercial benefits to your organisation too. Our mission is to break the stigma that still exists around mental health today and start the movement to many more organisations that can truly say #wetalktooVisit us at www.wetalktoo.co.uk Show less