Karen Caddick, Head of HR at Channel 5, spills the beans on her career in HR to date.
What’s your current job role?
Head of HR, Channel Five.
What did you do before this job?
Head of Employee Relations & HR Policy, Barclays Bank.
Describe your route into HR?
Started doing Business Process Re-engineering and very quickly realised that change was all about people rather than systems!
Did you always want to work in HR?
Yes – I did once I realised that people are an organisations most important asset!
What would you say has been the most significant event in your career to date?
The merger between Royal & SunAlliance in 1995. Baptism by fire in terms of dealing with people in times of huge organisational change.
How do you think the role of HR has changed since you began your HR career?
HR is increasingly becoming recognised as a key business partner. When I started out, HR was struggling to find a strategic voice, however in the last 10 years this has significantly changed. Mainly due to the pace of change and consolidation/competition in most industries, i.e. taking people with you is key.
What single thing would improve your working life?
Having 48 hours in each day.
What’s your favourite part of the HR Zone site?
The newswires.
Have you made contact with any other members?
Not yet but I will.
Do you have any advice for those looking to embark on a career in HR?
Do a line management role first – it’s the best training you can get for HR and stay in touch with your business, understand it and talk its language.
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:
Madeleine Tate
Keith Luxon, HR Policy and Reward Director, The Laurel Pub Company
Jeremy Thorn, Chairman and Director of QED Consulting
Roger Pattison, HR – Training & Management Development Consultant
Verity McVarish, HR Manager for Sift Media
Rus Slater
David Kelly, Head of Development and Training for Aventis
Jenny Kevan, UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories
William Martin, HR Manager, Telewest Broadband
Craig Truter, HR Manager, The Body Shop
Martin Stockton, HR Transformation Leader, Towers Perrin
Nick Heap, Consultant, New Directions
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 The new Housing Association
Iain Young, Head of HR for Cofathec Heatsave
