Duncan is a CIPD qualified HR Leader with over 24 years’ experience across numerous sectors. Duncan started his career in food retail with Budgens Stores, joining their graduate management programme and progressing from Store Management, Employee Development and Training, HR Management positions in Food manufacturing and Distribution and to Head of HR for Retail Stores over a 10-year period.
Duncan then moved to Sytner Group (part of US based Penske Corp), a prestige motor group in the UK. He initially worked as Divisional HR Head for the Toyota / Lexus division before moving to the BMW division also as their Head of HR. He also worked with brands such as Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Lamborghini, Maserati, Audi, Volvo, Saab, VW. During his time at Sytner Duncan was awarded the Global HR Manager of the year on two separate occasions and was also nominated twice for UK overall Support Manager of the year.
Duncan left Sytner Group to join Porsche GB as their UK Head of HR (member of UK Board). Porsche GB is a subsidiary of Porsche AG.
Duncan then moved to Truck-Lite Europe ltd, a tier one supplier of mirror and lighting products to the truck, trailer and passenger car market. Duncan assumed the role of European HR Director overseeing plants in Harlow, Birmingham, Eisenach (Germany), Bydgoszcz (Poland) and Minsk (Belarus) and operated as a key member of the European Board of Directors. During his time at Truck-Lite Duncan had to navigate the business through the 2007/08 global recession, working with works councils and unions across the network to agree significant headcount reductions, shorter working weeks and reductions in pay. Although heavily impacted the Company managing to retain all operational plants throughout the economic downturn and without any employment-based litigation.
Most recently Duncan has been working in the Financial Services Sector for Dollar Financial Group (The Money Shop, MEM, Payday Express, Suttons and Robertsons, Biggars, Duncanson and Edwards, TGS Stores), a short-term high cost credit organisation. Duncan’s initial role was that of Global HR Director for Online Business however the role evolved, and he became the UK Chief Operating Officer and a member of CFA (Consumer Finance Association) board. During his time at Dollar he and his fellow Operational Board members were charged with “cleaning up” the business in preparation for FCA regulation and against a backdrop of significant political and press pressure. Over the course of 6 years Duncan was a key influencer in ensuring that the business was regulated, restructured to ensure it met the needs of the new business model, agreed and delivered a customer redress programme and oversaw two sales to Private Equity Investors.
On leaving Dollar Duncan set up Harwood HR Solutions in order to provide 1st class HR services to the UK. Duncan has two daughters and is a keen follower of Football, Rugby and motorsport. He also enjoys eating out and nice holidays!
07912 115 749
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