People profiles
Heather Whitaker
Professional Background
- Senior HR professional who has worked for a series of large blue chip and organizations with cutting edge HR practices
- Led or involved in M&A of all sizes
- Specializes in assignments requiring change and engagement
- 20 years of international experience including leading European, global and UK projects and HR departments
- Highly commercial and business aligned
- Sector specialism in pharmaceuticals, life sciences and biotech
- Sector experience includes plumbing, engineering, technology, agriculture
- Associate of Global PMI partners
M&A Skills & Expertise
- HR strategy and strategic planning
- HR due diligence and audit
- Talent identification and management
- Organization transformation including organization design, restructuring and transitions
- Change management
- Senior leadership selection
- Experienced in working with unions and Works Councils
Project Highlights
- M&A and Headcount reduction related engagements on which Heather has worked include:
- Reliance Waters Controls – UK HR Workstream lead for acquisition, TUPE transfers and HR synergy realization (site closure). Lead for further efficiency initiatives
- Amersham Biosciences – 13% worldwide reduction
- Electrolux – European HR reduction as a move to new HR model
- GE – breakout group HR lead
- Pfizer – integration and site relocation
- Haemonetics – three separate acquisitions, subsequent integrations plus restructuring
- Daiichi Sankyo Development – restructuring and integration
- GSK – transformation program with restructuring, de-layering, competency design, selection, culture change program, process changes