HR should grab the opportunity to make a global impact

David Woods, 18 November 2009

By shifting from an administrative role to a strategic one, HR has an opportunity to deliver a more global approach, according to Santander's HR boss.

Speaking to delegates at the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition in Manchester yesterday, Mark Adams, HR director of Santander, said: "HR will need to evolve and focus on the growth engines of the world. HR has the ability to manage big projects and really focus on execution in order to deliver the things they say they will."

Following the acquisition of Abbey by Spanish bank Santander in 2005, the organisation has embarked on a change management programme to merge the company cultures. Adams explained this year the bank is expected to be the most profitable retail bank in the world and has recently expanded into the US and Brazil.

But he added: "We have got to get the right people into the business. If HR knows the connection between talent and results, why are we not focusing more on people?

"We need to put our money where our mouth is and move people from one function to another. It is a culturally sensitive issue but we put talent where it is most needed [around the world]."