Lucie Portas

Chief People Officer

Ivinghoe, England, United Kingdom

About

Senior Human Resources professional with multi sector experience (Financial Services, Hospitality, Health Care). Commercial minded, MBA educated, senior partner to Executive/Senior Management teams and leader of high profile business transformation programmes. Key strengths include Executive Development, People Strategy, Business Transformation, partnering with senior leadership teams, bringing commercial savvy HR advice and support.

Experience

  • Chief People Officer at Elysium Healthcare
    Nov 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 9 mos

    Reporting to CEO and a member of the Executive team, accountable for strategic and operational people agenda in support of c9,500 employees.

  • Whitbread (8 yrs 10 mos)
    • Head of HR/People
      Jan 2022 - Nov 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Reporting to CPO and a member of the Whitbread HR Leadership team, partnering with key c-suite Exec including CFO, Chief People Officer, MD Property & International, Group Operations Director, General Counsel to drive achievement of our people plan, as part of the business strategy

    • Head of HR Services & Business Partnering
      Sep 2020 - Nov 2023 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Reporting to Group HRD, responsible for leading HR Shared Services, Employee Relations and HR Policy teams across c34,000 team members, as well as HR Business Partnering team across Central Functions (Finance, HR, Group Operations, Property, General Counsel)

    • Head of HR, Transformation & Central Functions
      Jul 2018 - Sep 2020 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      Strategic HR partnering to Whitbread Exco; Group Transformation Director, CFO, CIO, MD Property & International, Group HRD, General Counsel

  • RBS ()
    • Senior HR Business Partner, Corporate Banking Divison
      Jan 2012 - Feb 2015 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Strategic HR Business Partner supporting the demanding 1,400FTE Commercial Banking business within RBS Group (customers £2m - £25m). Working with MD, Commercial Banking, and the Senior Leadership/Board Team to develop, drive and deliver HR strategies that support the achievement of challenging business priorities. Additional Head of HR support to high profile Interest Rates Swaps remediation programme. Working in partnership with MD to recruit and mobilise an 800FTE team to ensure 13,000 swaps were successfully reviewed. Responsible for policy review, FCA liaison, leadership team recruitment, recruitment strategy (perm & contractor), talent management etc.

    • HR Business Partner, Retail Branch Banking
      Mar 2010 - Jan 2012 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Selected to partner the challenging London & South East Region of NatWest Branch Banking network (circa 1,600FTE). Working with the Exec/Senior Management Team to shape the people agenda and provide advice and input into the wider business strategy.

  • RBS ()
    • Project Consultant (People/HR), Global Transaction Services
      2008 - 2010 · 2 yrs

      Responsible for designing and driving forward the People Agenda across circa 300 FTE sales and product specialists within the Global Transaction Services UK business. Core responsibilities include working with Senior Management to agree and deliver all elements of HR/People Agenda. Priority areas include recruitment of sales & product specialists, training & development, talent management, budget management and providing exceptional consultative support to the sales network

    • Head of Relationship Support, Global Banking Markets
      2007 - 2008 · 1 yr

      Responsible for leading a team of 12 Relationship Support Managers, servicing the needs of demanding Global Banking Markets customers. Responsibilities included headhunting and recruiting a top quality team, inspiring individuals to achieve tough targets, maintaining exceptional customer service standards, stakeholder management, workflow management, budget management and all areas of people management.

  • NatWest Group (6 yrs 1 mo)
    • Manager, Customer Service, Commercial Banking
      2005 - 2007 · 2 yrs

      Working in a high profile position within the circa 3,000 strong Commercial Banking division of the bank, responsible for leading an extensive programme to improve customer service and efficiency. Matrix management for circa 7 Service Managers across the UK.

    • Various Management Positions
      2001 - 2005 · 4 yrs

      Various roles including; Customer Service Manager, responsible for leading People Agenda across circa 300 FTE Corporate Service Centre. Team Leader of up to 15 Customer Service Associates, servicing large Corporate clients of Natwest and Royal Bank of Scotland.