Stephenson is responsible for the HR function and people agenda for more than 8,500 employees across the UK and Ireland. Since 2016 Lookers has been in The Sunday Times' 25 Best Big Companies to Work For, become the only automotive retailer to have attained the UK Top Employers accreditation, become a Stonewall diversity champion and a Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship provider.
Lookers has introduced a meaningfully different new benefits package including dramatically increased holiday provision, critical illness cover for all and a sector-leading 12 months' full maternity pay.
Prior to Lookers Stephenson spent seven years at DFS Furniture as group HR and property director. During that time the company added more than 1,500 new jobs via increased UK manufacturing and more than 40 new stores, floated on the London stock exchange, expanded into Europe, raised more than £6.5 million for charity through recycling sofas, and delivered more than 800 nationally-recognised qualifications to its employees. Stephenson also spearheaded a cultural transformation that led the company to be recognised as one of the UK’s Top Employers and to win numerous awards for its outstanding customer experience, including from the Institute of Customer Service.
Prior to DFS Stephenson held a number of HR and operational roles across retail and telecoms including at Vodafone, B&Q, Virgin and Dixons.
Stephenson is a trustee of national charity Citizens Advice and chairs its remuneration committee, has published academic work on consumer behaviour in conjunction with doctoral supervisors from Staffordshire University, and is an independent advisor to the Customer Experience Committee of HMRC.
