Interim HR Director, Southern Co-op
The Client
Southern Co-op is a member-owned business running convenience stores, end-of-life services and franchise operations across southern England. Its colleagues work in very different settings, from local shops to funeral services where sensitivity and care matter most.
Any HR strategy has to work for all of them while reflecting the organisation’s co-operative values.
The Requirement
Southern Co-op wanted a credible senior people leader as interim HR Director, someone who could engage the leadership team and frontline operations alike. The brief combined practical HR delivery with constructive employee relations, support for managers and people decisions that reflected the organisation’s values.
The role also called for the sensitivity that the funeral side of the business requires, and a confident but approachable leadership style.
The Solution
Novo prioritised candidates with substantial multi-site, consumer-facing or service sector experience, including retail, from our interim management network.
The search concentrated on:
- Workforce planning and organisational change
- Employee relations across dispersed teams
- Leadership development
- Consistent HR processes across many sites
- Building relationships quickly while staying close to operational realities
The Outcome
Novo appointed an interim HR Director who gave the people function stability and a clear sense of direction. Operational leaders gained a senior HR partner to help them address their workforce priorities.
Novo has also supported Southern Co-op with the appointment of its Director of Central Services.
