How I got here...
Personal development How I got here
Catherine Muirden
People director, Co-op Food
Top three career tips
People director
Co-op Food
2014 – Present
Working for a co-operative is very different to
anywhere I’ve worked before, as it’s owned by its
members and that includes our colleagues. I
joined in 2014 as part of the leadership team
dedicated to building a stronger Co-op.
As members we want our colleagues to
experience something different and be proud of
their Co-op. We feel very close to the communities
we serve, and that is a hallmark
of our Co-op colleagues.
HR director
Barclays
2007 – 2014
What a time to join banking! Our CEO Deanna
Oppenheimer used to say: “In times of change
just keep communicating”. That’s one thing I
learned. It was my fi rst truly international
organisation and I loved working with people from
a multitude of backgrounds. A cultural
transformation was taking place that moved
people’s mindsets away from sales to service. And
it was in banking that I understood what a pay-forperformance
philosophy could really achieve.
Divisional personnel controller
Marks & Spencer
2004 – 2007
We had to act fast in an economic downturn. I
learned how to lead change and cope with
corporate shock.
Group head of recruitment
Marks & Spencer
2002 – 2004
Here we pioneered online resourcing
for volume roles – we used to recruit 22,000
extra people just for Christmas. I led one of my
best teams ever, who all went on to do
amazing things.
Divisional personnel manager
Marks & Spencer
1998 – 2002
Store manager
Marks & Spencer
1993 – 1998
Secondment to a London borough
Economic Development Unit
1992 – 1993
Local government taught me Politics with a
capital ‘P’, and just how powerful the public
sector can be in networking with outside
agencies and businesses.
Management trainee, including
various store roles as HR manager
Marks & Spencer
1984 – 1992
This provided the foundation stones for me of
retail, and the instinct required to manage and
serve people well. I refer to
these experiences every
day unthinkingly.
Education
University of Edinburgh
MA in general studies
1980 – 1984
My general degree
was enjoyable, and
it led me into
‘extra-curricular’
activities like the
non-exec roles I’ve
held on arts boards
3
Always
have time
for people.
Relationships
are not just
there for career
progression
2
Choices can be exercised – but we
sometimes forget that. Capitalise on
what you are good at. Stay curious
and have a life outside of
work – there is no such thing
as too much learning
1
You have to have a crack
team. Do not compromise
on the quality of your
people if you are to lead
them well and they are to
enjoy working life
58 HR October 2019 hrmagazine.co.uk
Images: AdobeStock
/hrmagazine.co.uk