ASHLEY WINNETT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HR GM HOLDEN Few HR roles are as tough as those in the embattled manufacturing sector, and fewer of those again are as tough as those in the car manufacturing sector. Ashley Winnett and his team have the unenviable task of transitioning the Aussie icon from a production and manufacturing company to a national sales and full-time importer company. This transition is set to be completed by the end of 2017. Holden estimates it will cut 2,900 jobs by that date, although one study indicates the number of jobs lost could reach 65,400 within the GM supply chain. Winnett’s team is working tirelessly behind the scenes by keeping employees involved in the change through “reaction, interaction, and internal and external communications”. Winnett told HRD there were three key aspects to managing this particular change: “There are three different messages ongoing simultaneously. You have to be respectful of the past, mindful of the present and aim for the future.”
CATHY DOYLE
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER MCDONALD’S At a time when recruitment was generally subdued, the announcement from McDonald’s in May that it was creating 15,000 new jobs in its Australian restaurants came as a surprise. McDonald’s has transformed its customer service approach through the launch of a new service platform called ‘Create Your Taste’, resulting in the need for an increase in crew numbers in restaurants. The job creation will enable McDonald’s to hit the 100,000th employee milestone in Australia for the first time. In September, McDonald’s was recognised for its commitment to training with an Employer of Choice award at the 2015 Victorian Training Awards. The fast-food giant invests $40m annually into its training initiatives, which cover retail, business, operations and technology. The award caps a fortuitous time for Cathy Doyle, who joined the company in July following senior HR roles at Qantas, BNP Paribas and CBA.
BEST OF THE BEST The Australian HR Awards ‘HR Director of the Year’ award is one of the most hotly contested. This year the finalists included: • Wayne Gobert, Assetlink • Lee Norman, Beca • Deborah Lowe, ClearView Wealth • May Yuan, Eli Lilly • Rob Phipps, KFC Australia • Cindy Reid, Konica Minolta • Alex Diab, NSW Business Chamber The independent panel of judges gave the accolade to Amanda Towe of pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson.
DEBBIE RIGGER HR DIRECTOR ANZ EMC
Debbie Rigger spearheads an HR function that has helped EMC gain a ‘Best Place to Work’ accolade. Based on one of the world’s most comprehensive studies of workplace culture by Great Place to Work Australia, the study ranks companies based on five key dimensions of workplace culture: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. EMC’s wide range of culture initiatives helped the company gain the accolade on its first attempt. EMC’s ‘Leadership in the Fast Lane’ is a program that connects high-potential women to those already in senior leadership roles and offers an accelerated program of career development. Meanwhile, ‘You Define EMC’ is a worldwide initiative that aims to highlight how each employee contributes to EMC’s success. This program shrinks the distance between the company’s global locations and strengthens dialogue and connections between employees around the world.
www.hcamag.com
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