HR Zone puts the spotlight on Martin Stockton, a guest speaker at the forthcoming Softworld HR & Payroll event and new member of HR Zone.
What’s your current job role?
HR Transformation Leader at Towers Perrin.
What did you do before this job?
Worked for IBM as HR Transformation leader for EMEA, prior to that worked in HR for British Shipbuilders, B&Q and Vosper Thornycroft and in HR consultancy for Oracle, SAP and Deloitte Consulting.
Describe your route into HR?
Fluke actually, I was all set to do an MA in Medieval History, when Margaret Thatcher’s government withdrew funding from ‘non-essential’ courses – the only grant I could get was for a postgrad in Personnel Management. And here we are!
Did you always want to work in HR?
As above, no!
What would you say has been the most significant event in your career to date?
Taking time away from HR and doing a more business management role and learning to sell!
How do you think the role of HR has changed since you began your HR career?
More technology, less trade union power (in my opinion, a not altogether good thing). More importantly, what hasn’t changed – still little main board representation for HR and still same levels of administration, just other new ways of processing it.
What single thing would improve your working life?
A higher car allowance.
Do you have any advice for those looking to embark on a career in HR?
Yes, do something else first. The best HR people are those that have done other things and can empathise with line management and vice-versa. And learn to sell, it establishes your credibility far quicker than any other business skill as it proves you can contribute to the success of the business directly.
If you’re willing to share your experiences of working in HR to date with other members, we’d like to hear from you
– e-mail us to receive a copy of this questionnaire.
Previous ‘Introducing…’ features:
Crispin Garden-Webster, HR Specialist, Asian Development Bank.
Sandra Walsh, HR Delivers.
Carole Leslie, Director, IT Learning Ltd
Shaun Dunphy, Project and Process Manager, EMEA HR Service Centre for MCI
Debra Artlett, HR Officer, NGJ
Dianne Miles, HR Manager, Rollalong Ltd
Jacqui Mann, HR Manager, Integra NeuroSciences
Isabella Montgomery, Human Resources Officer at Thenew Housing Association
Iain Young, Head of HR for Cofathec Heatsave
