Great HR leaders need to diversify their experience in order to get to the top, new research reveals.

According to a poll of senior HR professionals by Orion Partners, 64% had relevant business experience outside of HR, with 50% having worked abroad and 50% having been employed in multiple sectors.

But an HR qualification is shown not to be an absolute requirement, with 46% holding no formal HR certification.

The research, based on a focus group of HR leaders based in Europe, America and South Africa, found 73% had also held a senior HR leadership position elsewhere prior to their current role.   

Jan Hills, a partner at Orion Partners, said: "Armed with an understanding of what the very best HR leaders do and how HR professionals can see themselves in their roles, we believe organisations will be in a much stronger position to identify and recruit real talent into the crucial HR director position.  

"Equally important, it would enable them to groom their most talented HR business partners for transition to the top."