Meet the City HR Committee

President and Champion for Corporate Social Responsibility

Stephen Sidebottom,
Head of HR, EMEA, Nomura International

Stephen has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources.  Prior to joining Nomura, he held senior HR Director roles at Dresdner Kleinwort, Commerzbank, Barclays Capital and Standard Chartered Bank.

Stephen has extensive experience of leading HR departments, HR Business Partnering for Global businesses and European responsibility for learning and development. He is a regular commentator on key City issues and is often a guest speaker at recognised HR conferences.

In addition to his role as President of City HR, he is the Committee Champion for Corporate Social Responsibility. Stephen will be responsible for identifying areas where City HR can make a real contribution and working with HR professionals market-wide to achieve this aim.

Chairman and Committee Champion for the Insurance Sector and Affiliations

Robert Potter,
Group Strategic HR Director and Executive Board Member, Jardine Lloyd Thomson

Robert has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources. Prior to joining Jardine Lloyd Thompson, he worked for  Societe Generale as Global Head of HR and UK Head of HR, and Ellingham Partnership as a Consultant. In addition to his role as Chairman at City HR, Robert is the Committee Champion for the Insurance Sector and Affiliations. 

Robert will be responsible for the group strategy and activities as well as exploring ways in which City HR can work with affiliated bodies to produce wider research and knowledge-sharing opportunities for members through other member organsiations and academic institutions.

Robert will assume a particular interest in ensuring that the needs of the insurance sector are incorporated into City HR’s plans and activities.

Vice Chairman and Committee Champion for International HR affairs

Nigel Holmes,
MD and Head of HR, EMEA, Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking

Nigel has over 20 years of working in financial services, initially as a career banker, before moving into Human Resources.  Nigel has worked for SG CIB for the past 19 years and in 6 countries. He has previously worked for Standard Chartered Bank and Lloyds TSB plc. Given Nigel's experience of working in 6 global locations, in addition to his role as Vice Chair for City HR, he is the Committee Champion for International HR affairs.

Nigel will coordinate with senior HR representatives in the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, Middle East and Africa to ensure that City HR's activities are relevant to HR Directors and Business Partners whose roles also support businesses beyond the UK.  Nigel will also ensure that future activities are relevant to those in Investment Banking.

Director, City HR and Champion for City HR Services

Andrea Eccles

Andrea has over 27 years experience of working in HR and runs the overall activities of the Association.  She joined City HR in 2007. Prior to joining City HR, Andrea founded a leading HR consulting firm, Quantum VarCity, which merged with Fairplace Consulting plc, where she was co-Managing Director.  She previously spent almost 12 years in various HR roles at Chase and started her career in expatriate management at Citibank. Andrea has spent her entire career in the City.

Andrea is responsible for setting the Association’s strategy with the Committee, as well as managing all member activities including events, conferences, HR benchmarking, HR services and member careers advice.

Committee Member and Champion for Sector Relevance

Louise Redmond,
HR Director, Bank of England

Louise has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources. Prior to joining the Bank of England, she worked for Glaxosmithkline as VP Organisational Development and KPMG as an Executive Consultant. Louise is the Committee Champion for Sector Relevance.

Louise will be responsible for identifying the issues that affect each industry sector in the City, working in conjunction with an expert in each of these areas.  The sectors covered are:  banking, investment banking, asset management, insurance, professional services and general organisations who provide vital support to HR functions in the City.

Committee Member and Champion for Employment Law and Best Practice

Jane Mann,
Employment Law Partner, Fox Williams

Jane has over 20 years experience in employment law in the City. She is head of Fox Williams’ employment law department and a member of the firm’s management board. She specialises in City employment law issues. Her advice is often sought where an organisation needs an employment lawyer who can combine legal skills, management experience and knowledge of the financial sector. Prior to joining Fox Williams, Jane worked for Denton Hall and McKenna & Co. Jane also co-founded the Employment Lawyers Association and is a former chair of that Association.

Jane is responsible for Best Practice and Employment Law at the City HR Association.  By working with HR practitioners, City employment lawyers and other specialist advisers, City HR is able to develop policies, procedures and best practice guidance for members on issues affecting City firms.

Committee Member and Champion for Compensation

David Clifford,
Global Head, Performance & Reward, Swiss Re

David Clifford's HR career spans over 30 years. David spent the first 4 years of his career outside the City but in 1978 joined Bank of America in a Compensation & Benefits role. After 8 years with BofA, including 3 years in San Francisco, in 1986 he joined Citibank as Head of HR for its Global Equities business where he was heavily involved in the integration of its major stockbroking acquisitions post-Big Bang.

David eventually became Head of HR for Citi's wholesale bank in the UK but left in 1991 to join KPMG's HR Consulting Practice as a Partner. After 8 years with KPMG, spent largely consulting on Compensation and HR Systems with clients in Financial Services and Central Government, he left to join Robert Fleming as group HR Director This was a short-lived association since Fleming was taken over by Chase in 2000, when David returned to Consulting as a partner with Ernst & Young in its Human Capital practice.

Leaving E&Y in 2004 David joined ABN AMRO as the Global Head of Performance & Reward based in Amsterdam. This role came to an end in 2008 following the acquisition of ABN AMRO by a consortium of banks led by RBS.

Since returning to the UK in September 2008 David has been the Global Head of Performance & Reward for Swiss Re and is now based in London.

Committee Member and Champion for Membership Attraction

Karin Rehacek,
Director, Human Resources, Erste Bank Group AG

Karin has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources. Prior to joining Erste Bank 15 years ago, Karin worked for Creditanstalt Bankverein, and previously, Johnstone Associates as HR & Office manager. Karin is the Committee Champion for Membership Attraction.

Karin will be responsible for Membership issues, and ensuring that City HR is attractive to new members through offering the right blend of services and events. She will also ensure that it remains relevant to the HR population that it supports.

Committee Member and Champion for Asset Management Sector and Social Activities

Sheena Gibson,
Director - HR, Hermes Fund Managers Ltd

Sheena has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources. Sheena has worked for Hermes for over 20 years and prior to this worked for House of Fraser as a Personnel Manager in one of their stores.

Sheena is the Champion for the Asset Management Sector and will ensure that the issues faced within this group are served by the Association’s activities. Sheena is also responsible for member social activities.

Committee Member and Champion for Middle East Membership

Marc Hoodless,
Managing Director, Human Resources, Arqaam Capital, Dubai

Marc has over 30 years experience of working in Human Resources. Prior to joining Arqaam Capital in Dubai, Marc worked for C. Hoare & Co in London as Head of HR and was a member of the Executive Group. Prior to this Marc was Global Head of HR at Rabobank International in the Netherlands for 5 years. Marc has also previously worked for ING, NatWest Markets, and Ansbacher.

Marc will be Champion for the Middle East, ensuring that HR Business Partners and Global HR Heads in London are kept abreast of HR issues in this region.

Committee Member and Champion for Learning and Talent Management

Andrew Pullman,
Managing Director (Founder), People Risk Solutions

Andrew has over 20 years experience of working in Human Resources. Prior to establishing People Risk Solutions, Andrew worked for Dresdner Kleinwort as Head of HR for Capital Markets and was responsible for Training and Talent Management. Andrew has also worked for Deutsche Bank, Saudi International Bank, Citi and JP Morgan in HR management/training roles. Andrew also set up the Here is the City learning web site.

Andrew will be the Champion for Learning and Talent Management. Andrew will ensure that the City HR’s annual training programme is relevant and that our philosophy and events relating to talent management reflect organisations’ aspirations.

Committee Member and Champion for Professional Services Sector

Faith Jenner,
Director, Faith Jenner Consulting Limited, HR Consultancy

Faith has over 30 years experience of working with business managers and HR professionals to align business strategy with appropriate human resources solutions. Prior to the establishment of her Consultancy in 2006, she worked for Calyon Corporate & Investment Bank (previously Credit Lyonnais) as HR Director. Faith has also previously worked for Northgate Information Solutions as a member of the Management Board with responsibility for Quality & HR, Ernst & Young as Director of HR & Recruiting – Change Management and Arthur Andersen as UK Director of Personnel and Recruiting.

Faith is the Committee Champion for the Professional Services Sector. 

Committee Member

Ian Nash,
Punter Southall Group

Ian has extensive experience within the financial services sector having held senior management/Company Secretarial positions in a number of high profile organisations. These have included: GEC plc, The London International Financial Futures & Options Exchange (LIFFE), the General Insurance Standards Council (GISC) and Punter Southall Group Ltd.

Some of these positions have included overall responsibility for all aspects of the HR function, others have included working closely with external professional advisers in the delivery of employee benefits.

Ian has specific responsibility for Associate Members.

Honorary Treasurer

David Barnett,
Chief Manager – Internal Audit, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corporation

David has been at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corporation since 1998. Prior to this David worked for Yasuda Trust & Banking as Financial Controller. Other companies David has worked for include TSB England & Wales (now Lloyds TSB), and Deloitte. David is the Hon Treasurer of City HR.