Mark Simmons, HR Director for Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK Ltd, has been named HR Director of the Year at the HR Distinction Awards, beating off strong competition from a shortlist of six UK HR Directors.
Judged by a panel of HR experts from leading businesses including Coca Cola Enterprises, Fujitsu and Tesco, the awards recognise outstanding achievement, with the HR Director of the Year award going to the individual who has led a team to successfully implement a people strategy that directly contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives and helped create an executive culture in which people issues are at the heart of every important business decision.
The judges were impressed with Mark’s sustained performance over a significant time period, contributing to impressive business growth through Norbert Dentressangle’s ‘You Grow, We Grow’ philosophy.
Marks heads a 40 strong function which delivers HR support along with a comprehensive learning and development programmes to 12,000 colleagues throughout the UK.
Mark said: “The logistics industry is not seen as ‘glamorous’, especially alongside major retail and consumer brands, which makes it all the more satisfying to be bringing home this trophy on behalf of the fantastically passionate and hard-working team of HR professionals with whom I am privileged to work.
“In an industry which often struggles to attract new talent, I am very proud to work for an organisation which places people at the very heart of its business. From our apprenticeship scheme right through to our senior leadership programmes, we are investing in attracting people into the industry and developing them to be better at their jobs and achieve their full potential.”
This is Norbert Dentressangle’s second HR Distinction Award, having picked up the award for Distinction in Learning and Development in 2013.