Zest's 2024

HR & Benefits Heroes

OUR HR & BENEFITS HEROES

Top Individuals Who Have Inspired Us

In the ever-evolving world of HR and employee benefits, certain individuals shine brightly through their innovation, dedication, and impact. This year, we’re thrilled to honour 21 exceptional HR and benefits professionals who have made a significant mark in the industry. These trailblazers have not only excelled in their roles but have also driven meaningful change, inspired their peers, and contributed to the advancement of employee wellbeing.

Nominated by their colleagues and by Zest, join us in celebrating these extraordinary individuals who are shaping the future of work by prioritising employee wellbeing and satisfaction. Scroll down to meet our HR and Benefits Heroes 2024 and learn more about them.

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Group Head of HR, STM Group PLC
Bill Scott
Group Head of HR at STM Group PLC, Bill Scott has over 18 years of experience in HR Leadership. Bill is passionate about HR and believes it plays an essential role in delivering commercial success to any business.
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Head of People, The Genuine Dining Co.
Candice Van Antwerp
Head of People at The Genuine Dining Co. & Group, Candice has more than 20 years' experience working in the food and beverage industry. Candice manages recruitment, onboarding and training ensuring the company has the best people, serving the best food – all the while having fun.
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Senior Reward Manager, Wickes
Daniella Brackpool
Daniella is Senior Reward Manager at Wickes and Co-Chair of the Wellbeing Network, with 30 years of HR experience driving benefits strategies. Daniella is passionate about enhancing employee wellbeing and fostering a positive workplace culture.
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Payroll & Benefits Officer, NHS Scotland
Dayana Gonzalez
Dayana is Payroll and Benefits Officer at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and part of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
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Senior Benefits Manager, DHL
Debbie Fennell
Senior Benefits Manager at DHL Supply Chain, Debbie has 25 years’ experience in the HR and Benefits industry. Debbie has experience working with fast-paced blue chip companies and is passionate about driving wellbeing, employee engagement and continuous improvement.
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Head of Employee Relations, Royal Mail Group
Graham Long
Graham has 20 years’ experience working in the employment sector with roles at Royal Mail and Network Rail. As Head of Employee Relations at Royal Mail, Graham leads the IR strategy for business change programmes and is paramount in driving business change and culture.
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HR Director, Wave
Jane Austin
A Director of Human Resources, Jane has a demonstrated history of working in the utility and automotive industries, skilled in employee engagement, people & stakeholder management, employment law, change management and recruiting. Jane is also a strong communications professional with a Masters Degree focused in Industrial Relations from the University of Warwick.
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Senior Reward Manager, TSB Bank
Jo Bootle
An experienced Senior Reward Manager, Jo has a wealth of experience in Pensions, Benefits, Share Plans and Recognition. Jo is passionate about creating great colleague experiences and building a competitive and compelling Benefits offering for all employees.
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Head of Talent Acquisition, Next 15
Joyce Enchill
With over a decade’s experience in the HR industry, Joyce is Head of Talent Acquisition at Next 15. Joyce is committed to fostering trust and inclusivity, leveraging AI for enhanced human-centric talent strategies and is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
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Benefits & Wellbeing Partner, Ofcom
Karen Sharples
An experienced Reward & Benefits professional, Karen has global experience in Compensation, Benefits, Reward & Recognition as well as Job Architecture, Evaluation & Grading, HR Systems and MI Analysis. Karen is passionate about creating great employee experiences and building competitive & inclusive benefits packages, with an expertise in Benefits implementation, management and annual reward processes.
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Head of Reward, National Gas Transmission
Katy Downes
Katy has more than 20 years’ experience in the pay and reward industry and is Head of Reward at National Gas. Katy is focused on engagement and creating a fabulous employee experience to enable excellent customer service to thrive.
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HR Advisor, NHS Scotland
Leanne Hamilton
A HR Advisor for NHS Scotland, Leanne has nearly 20 years of experience working in the HR sector. Leanne has a passion for coaching and fostering talent, and has demonstrated success working in the hospital and healthcare industry during her career.
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HR Transformation, Open Health
Miranda R
Miranda is the Head of Reward, HRIS & HR Transformation at Open Health. With more than 20 years’ experience in the benefits industry and extensive HR leadership experience across diverse industries, she excels in strategic HR transformations and customised reward strategies.
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Reward Analyst, Bakkavor
Madeleine Cross
Madeleine is a Reward Analyst with a background in customer service management. Skilled in team motivation, communication and people management, Madeleine is dedicated to enhancing employee rewards and driving organisational success.
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Head of People, Greggs
Nicola Balfour
Head of People at Greggs, Nicola is an experienced senior people leader and has demonstrated a history of working in retail, supply chain and head office environments. As well as colleague engagement, Nicola has specialisms in diversity and inclusion and reward and benefits.
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Senior Benefits Analyst, Yahoo
Olga Taylor
Olga is a Senior Benefits Analyst at Yahoo with over five years of experience in designing and managing global benefits programmes. Olga specialises in employee benefits which attract and retain top talent and is passionate about enhancing workplace culture and employee satisfaction.
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Head of Reward & Mobility, Sumo Group
Samantha O'Shea
Sam has been nominated for her exceptional leadership skills. She is passionate about understanding and meeting our team's needs, ensuring benefits are accessible to all. Her enthusiasm for new ideas inspires an inclusive and engaging workplace. Sam is dedicated to delivering the best benefits package for Sumo Group, prioritising employee well-being and enhancing employee engagement.
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HR Director, Europe at PrivateFly, Flexjet and Halo
Sarah Silke
Sarah is HR Director, Europe at PrivateFly, Flexjet and Halo and has been instrumental in bringing these entities together, harmonising and enhancing benefits for employees, including a generous, tax efficient and competitively charged pension scheme, as well as financial protection and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
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Head of People & Reward, Lookers
Stacie Stewart
Stacie is Head of People & Reward at Lookers plc, a nationwide automotive retailer and repairer which represents multiple vehicle manufacturers. With more than 20 years at Lookers, Stacie has held a number of HR roles in the organisation and her commitment to her role is demonstrated by this.
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Benefits Manager, Taylor Wimpey
Sharon Scrivener
Sharon is a Benefits Manager at Taylor Wimpey with more than 15 years’ experience at the organisation. Sharon is passionate about optimising employee benefits solutions and HR policy compliance.
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People Operations & Reward Lead, Sweaty Betty
Tara Pickard
Reward Project Lead at women’s activewear retailer, Sweaty Betty, Tara has more than 10 years of experience working in the HR and reward industry.