Leading consumer delivery company Hermes UK has appointed a highly experienced and effective Chief People Officer as part of its commitment to investing in its people as the business continues to grow and transform. Penny Garnett will take up the newly created role, working alongside the Executive Committee, to lead Hermes UK’s people strategy and vision working with Jill Maples in her new role of People and Culture Director.
Penny’s remit at Hermes includes driving cultural change within the business as it continues on its strong growth trajectory, ensuring that its people are able to adapt. This will include looking at aligning practices and approaches for employees, self- employed contractors and agency staff. She will also be looking at ways of addressing the industry driver shortage from within the business and focussing on senior level succession and talent planning.
Penny brings over 20 years’ experience as a HR Director, having worked with major global businesses and key FTSE organisations. She joins from leading services provider Serco where she was HR Director and has held similar roles at fintech firm Pico and the James Hay Partnership. She is also highly experienced in industrial relations and working with unions.
Commenting on her new role, Penny said: “I am excited to be joining one of the most dynamic businesses in the UK that is right at the heart of the changing retail and ecommerce sectors. Now more than ever, it’s people who make the difference between a good business and a great one and it is this ethos that will form the foundation of everything I intend to implement.”
Martijn de Lange said: “Penny’s drive and enthusiasm for the people agenda is only second to her wealth of experience and expertise. She is an important part of the jigsaw for us as we continue to transform our growing business in this fast growing and changing sector.”
