According to one associate, his attention to detail and personal touch are admired throughout the business, from saying hello to every person in a lift and knowing the name of all the security guards, to personally writing to say thank you to all employees involved in volunteering.
No wonder 82% of people say they are proud to work at PwC, the highest rated professional services firm in the Sunday Times Best Companies to work for ranking - and fourth place overall in the best big companies category. The company has also been voted the top graduate employer in the Times Top 100 survey for a record seventh consecutive year and was number one in the Guardian's UK300 survey at the National Graduate Target GTI Awards.
Now Powell adds another award to the PwC trophy cabinet: that of Most People-Focused CEO, Private Sector. The shortlist in this category was developed in conjunction with workplace engagement specialist, Best Companies. Firms that employ 5,000-plus people and feature in Best Companies' database of more than 30,0000 organisations were eligible for consideration.
HR magazine asked Best Companies to crunch data from its employee surveys based around leadership criteria, such as inspiration and confidence in the person leading the organisation and ability to build strong management teams throughout complex organisations. The names of the top 10 scoring companies are provided to HR magazine and then information about the leaders is sent anonymously to our judging panel of 15 HR directors and chief executives. They then rank the list to produce the winner. The award is therefore based on both employee and professional HR feedback.
Powell was made a member of the management board in 2006, having joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 1977. When interviewed for a team newsletter, his advice included: 'treat everyone with respect', 'put everything you have into any job you do and do it to the best of your ability' and 'if you put yourself out there and are prepared to make the tough decisions, you will be rewarded'.
On Powell's watch, the organisation has weathered the recession. Off the back of a difficult pay review, he awarded everyone an additional two days' holiday to say thank you. People know they can speak to him directly and he is a role model for the behaviours and values expected from all employees. He spends much of his time talking about 'who we are' and helps bring it to life for everyone.
Powell responds personally to all Ask Leader emails and, if he feels it needs more than that, will pick up the phone to speak one to one. If he can't attend a meeting due to diary clashes, he will record a video for those attending. The board also rotates the location of board meetings around the country.
PwC says Powell is a truly distinctive leader - and our judges agreed.
FINALISTS
• John Connolly, chief executive, Deloitte
• John Dunford, director, Bourne Leisure
• Andy Ferguson, MD, Boots Opticians
• Rufus Hall, chief executive, Orchid Group
• Amy McPherson, president & MD Europe, Marriott Hotels International
• William Morris, MD UK & Ireland, InterContinental Hotels Group
• Gerard Nieuwenhuys, group MD, Sytner Group
• Michael Sherwood and Richard Gnodde, co CEOs, Goldman Sachs International
• Malcolm Walker, CEO, Iceland Frozen Foods
Sponsored by Best Companies
