PARC promotes stimulating research, with expert business and academic input. This, combined with our senior-level membership, provides a rewarding and participative environment for those seeking improved corporate performance.
With over 60 members, including 50% of the FTSE 100, PARC offers an unrivalled opportunity for peer-to-peer exchange in a trusted environment.
Our philosophy is based on the belief that successful organisations need:
- A clear and compelling business strategy which is communicated effectively throughout the organisation
- Leaders with strategic capability who can anticipate and shape the future
- An engaged, capable and motivated workforce
- An environment which encourages high-performance with minimal barriers to effective operation
- A performance management system which is clear, unambiguous and can track performance at all relevant levels of the organisation
- HR practices which support the business strategy and create the above conditions.
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Before establishing CRF, PARC and Strategic Dimensions, I had the privilege of working Senior HR roles in the US and Europe with six major international businesses including Avon, Rowntree, Unilever and Hewlett Packard. Those who were successful had a clear and compelling strategy, fostered a high-performance team-based culture, set clear objectives, employed clever people, understood the importance of customers and learned from the evaluation of outcomes.
In CRF, PARC and SD we apply these principles in the delivery of our services. We’ve built an unrivalled international network and knowledge bank in the HR and People Management communities and provide the very best advice, resourcing, research, solutions and networking to our clients.
Mike Haffenden
OUR TEAM
A blend of ex-HR practitioners, advisors and business leaders combined with senior management experience in thought leadership and forums.
Karen Clark
Director
Karen plays a lead role in member and partner engagement. She is a contributor to our programme development and chairs the Peer to Peer exchange events. She is instrumental in the bi-annual PARC Masterclass which aligns with her interest in the development of capability in the areas of reward, performance and wellbeing. Karen is also a director of Strategic Dimensions, a leading HR recruitment firm.
Steven Toft
Director
Steven is a writer, business consultant and award-wining blogger, and was previously with the consulting practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has written for The Guardian, The New Statesman and Prospect, and featured on People Management’s list of the Top 20 social media influencers.
Phil Wills
Managing Director
Phil is a Director of PARC and supports the development and delivery of its programme of events. He also leads its ‘reward learning’ programmes. His previous corporate roles included Global Head of Reward for Reed Elsevier (RELX), for ICI, and for Diageo. Since 2010 he has established an independent consultancy business to provide strategic reward support, focused on the delivery of business strategy and organisational performance. A further main area of focus is as coach to newly appointed (or aspiring) Corporate HR Directors on all areas of reward strategy and delivery (including incentive plan design and corporate governance effectiveness).
Nigel Hadleigh
Finance Director
Nigel is the Financial Controller for PARC and its associated businesses, CRF and SD. Nigel is responsible for all financial matters including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, taxation and monitoring business performance. He has extensive experience in accountancy, taxation and payroll.
Eva John-Lewis
Executive Assistant
Eva organises the logistics of PARC events including member correspondence and event management.
Rosanna Neary
Senior Membership Engagement Executive
As Senior Membership Engagement Executive, Rosanna assists in helping CRF members optimise the value of their membership through events, research, networking and advisory services. Prior to joining CRF, Rosanna held a number of client-facing administration roles.
Harriet Ojo
Senior Design Executive
A First-Class Honours graduate in Events Management, Harriet leads the design and layout of all printed and soft copy materials, marketing collateral, membership programmes and reports. Her role also encompasses the same responsibilities for both PARC’s sister organisations: Corporate Research Forum (CRF) and Strategic Dimensions (SD).
MEMBERSHIP SALES AND PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES
Melissa Bull
Commercial Director
Melissa has worked within the HR advisory space since graduating from the University of Sheffield with a degree in French and Management. Her areas of focus in her previous role at Korn Ferry Hay Group were assessment, leadership development and reward. Melissa is responsible for helping members optimise the value of their CRF membership through events, research, networking and advisory services.
Richard Hargreaves
Director
Richard is the Managing Director of CRF ensuring alignment and connectivity between the two professional networks of CRF and PARC. Prior to this role Richard was Commercial Director across CRF and PARC and previously the EMEA Sponsorship Director at The Economist Group.
CHARITIES WE HAVE SUPPORTED IN 2021/22
Throughout the year we make donations to Charities nominated by our team members. In the last 18 months CRF, PARC and SD have donated £25,000 to the following Charities:
Testimonials
Having been an active member of PARC for several years, I find the quality of speakers, the range of topics and depth of discussion to be outstanding.
Adrian Jackson, Group Reward and Policy Director, Vodafone
Vodafone
PARC provides exceptional research and insight across HR and beyond. Their events are always fantastic with stimulating debate and insight on a variety of topics. I highly value the networking opportunities they provide with peers at great companies.
Alex Lowen, Head of Group Performance and Reward, HSBC
HSBC
As a non-specialist in the Reward discipline, PARC continues to be an invaluable resource for stimulation around current trends and best practice, as well as expert analysis of the broader geopolitical and economic context for many of these. Topics are always highly relevant and current, guest speakers are knowledgeable and informed, and the opportunities to learn from others through lively debate and Q&A never disappoint.
Alistair Proctor, Chief Human Resources Officer, IPG Mediabrands
IPG Mediabrands
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