A highly motivated, creative and commercial Main Board HR Director with international experience in the retail sector including Europe and China. Experience across a range of retailers including Peacocks, Millets, Marks and Spencers and Bonmarche. A track record of establishing strategy, leadership and business processes to operate a sustainable and professional HR function. Reporting directly to CEO with excellent inter-personal relationship building, influencing and presentation skills. Able to create value to the business as a member of the Executive Board for the Group. Specialties:Employment Law, Employee Relations, Organisational change and re-structuring, Managing Board relationships

Head of HR (UK) @ Responsible for the HR stategy throughout the entire UK portfolio From September 2012 to Present (3 years 1 month) CrosshandsHead of HR @ Up-dated profile From May 2012 to September 2012 (5 months) SolihullGroup HR Director @ Contributing to the CEO and Main Board stakeholders the effective development of the business at strategic and operational level on a UK and International basis and sustaining Main Board group behavioural dynamics to help ensure focus for team during challenging climate Managing a team of 50 people who provide a partnership service to the retail, logistics, buying, supply chain and support functions in Peacocks and Bonmarche. Advocate for Peacocks Group on all legal employment issues with strong understanding and experience of European legislation, for example, France, Germany, Belgium, Nederland, Italy, Spain, Slovakia and Russia, as well as experience of instructing lawyers in various jurisdictions. Led a series of successful retail acquisitions, integration projects and subsequent disposal programmes for the Group (Millets and the Fragrance Shop) Responding quickly to business challenges involving new projects, such as acquisitions, execution of due diligence matters and liaison with respective employee representative organisations and third parties, representing the company at Tribunal where appropriate. From January 2003 to April 2012 (9 years 4 months) CardiffHead of HR Group @ Producing and delivering HR strategies, which are commercial, focused and capable of demonstrating added value to the business. Providing strategic vision, leadership and drive in areas such as performance enhancement, management development, recruitment, retention, motivation & engagement and training in line with the Investors in People standard. Acting as an internal consultant to the business on organisational structural issues, including review of roles and responsibilities, re-organisation of functions and activities, redundancies, and providing on to one development support and advice to the senior executives and Directors. Accountable for the group wide manpower planning process, headcount summary and budget and ensuring that compensation and benefits practices are benchmarked appropriately and devise inventive reward packages that underpin the vision and help deliver the business plan. From 2002 to 2003 (1 year) CardiffHead of HR @ Reported to the Group Finance Director, responsible for hands-on managing the HR function within Peacocks involving the retail, logistics and central support functions. Applied detailed knowledge of organisational roles and job content throughout Head office, retail and the supply chain including recruitment & selection, compensation & benefits, equal opportunities, employment law, manpower planning, performance management, documentation & policy and health and safety. From 1998 to 2002 (4 years) Cardiff

Bristol University Helen Rees is skilled in: Coaching, Retail, HR Strategy, Team Building, People Management, Employment Law, Employee Relations, Management, Grievances, Leadership, Training, Recruiting, Team Management, Human Resources, Strategic HR, Employee Engagement, Personnel Management, Team Leadership, Logistics, Business Planning, Time Management, Policy, Organizational..., Talent Management, Training Delivery, Business Strategy, Project Management, Strategy, Culture Change, Restructuring, Succession Planning, Budgets, Management Development, Payroll, HR Policies, Employee Training, TUPE, Deferred Compensation, Graduate Recruitment, Employment Legislation, Employee Benefits, Strategic Planning, Organizational Structure, HR Transformation, Sourcing, CIPD qualified, Restructures, Assessment Center