2013 European HR Director Summit

 

This was the official website for the 2013 European HR Director Summit, Europe’s premier forum for senior HR executives as well as leading industry players.
Content is from the site's 2013 archived pages.

23 - 26 September, 2013
London, UK

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Welcome to the European HR Director Summit

Running into its 13th year, the European HR Director Summit is Europe’s premier forum for senior HR executives as well as leading industry players. With this year’s theme set on ‘Accelerating HR Transformation in a Global Context and Pushing the Strategic Agenda of HR Organisation’, the conference brings you the ultimate learning experience with three focused streams - Globalising HR Services Delivery, Talent Management & Workforce Optimisation and HR Technology & Analytics.

 

Globalising HR Services Delivery

HR Technology & Analytics

Talent Management & Mobility
  • End-to-end HR processes
  • Lean initiatives and projects
  • Customer-central model
  • Vendor Management for HR professionals
  • Future HR operational model
  • Cloud-based HR Management System
  • HR analytics fundamentals: People and Data
  • Change management
  • HR applications and tools
  • Strategic workforce management
  • What should we do differently to drive your talent strategy?
  • Talent mobility to fuel future growth
  • Social Media Effectiveness
  • Complexity of global leadership

BRAND NEW FOR 2013

  • Vertical industry peer group debating ‘Future Recruitment, Strategic Workforce Planning and Social Media Effectiveness’
  • Three utterly discussion-led streams lead you to take a deep dive into what top performing HR organisations are doing with HR Technology, Big Data in HR, Nexus Talent Management, Process-centric HR Services Delivery, and HR Transformation
  • 30+ case studies / sessions delivered by industry-leading speakers offer you comprehensive information on proven strategy, winning approaches and actionable tips
  • Introducing you to three Think-Tank panel sessions:
    1. ‘Aligning HR Strategies with Business Goals’
    2. Talent Management - What Should We Do Differently in 2013
    3. The New Era of HR: Transforming HR with Big Data, Cloud and Social Media
  • Two-day-long HR Showcase Hall gives you an exclusive opportunity to learn, assess and meet with your potential vendors

 

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

You listen, you learn, you think, you question, you do and you benefit:

  • Globalising your HR transformation projects with effective change management & optimised resources
  • Driving process excellence for HR Services through customer-centric model and lean initiatives
  • Integrating and consolidating HR Management System at a global scale
  • Step-by-step guidance on HR analytics and advanced predictive modeling
  • Embracing social media tools in your talent management strategy to recruit and retain top performers
  • Leveraging talent mobility to address the talent mismatch & to fuel growth opportunities
  • Transforming your workforce planning to be strategic, demand-driven and aligned with business strategy

European HR Director Summit logo

 

 

As the digital marketing executive responsible for promoting the European HR Director Summit, I remember just how close we came to disaster—and how incredibly rewarding the final outcome was. From the moment we launched the campaign for the London event, which brought together senior HR leaders to explore topics like HR transformation, talent management, and workforce analytics, the momentum seemed strong. Registrations were climbing and industry interest was high. The summit itself has long been recognized as a premier gathering for HR executives across Europe, with focused sessions on global HR service delivery, HR technology, and talent mobility, so expectations were high.

But shortly after the promotional push began, something alarming happened: our search rankings and website traffic suddenly tanked. At first we thought it might be a technical issue or algorithm fluctuation, but our SEO agency noticed something unusual—a massive spike in new inbound links pointing to our domain. Many of them looked suspicious. That’s when they suggested something I had honestly never even heard of before: a negative SEO attack, a potentially existential problem.

They recommended we contact the specialists at Google-Penalty.com, and that decision probably saved the entire campaign. Their team immediately performed a deep audit of our link profile. They reviewed thousands of links, isolated the toxic ones that had clearly been injected to damage our rankings, and carefully compiled a disavow file that was submitted to Google. It was meticulous work, and frankly a huge relief to have professionals handling it.

Two weeks later the turnaround was remarkable. Our rankings rebounded, organic traffic surged back, and registrations for the summit accelerated right when we needed them to. In the end, the European HR Director Summit turned into a huge success—packed sessions, outstanding networking, and the kind of strategic conversations about HR transformation that the event is known for.

Looking back, it was a close call, but it also reinforced how resilient the event—and the team behind it—really was. What could have been a marketing catastrophe ended up becoming one of the most successful summits we had ever promoted. Jade Fortnow

 

 

Conference Day One

8:00 AM Registration & Networking

9:00 AM Summit Welcome

9:05 AM Chairman's Opening Remarks

KEYNOTE:

9:15 AM The Future of Human Resources

Conventional interpretations of what HR offers are increasingly outdated as business requirements and technology evolve. Market leaders are now focusing on how to develop the role of HR as a business partner by driving growth and exploiting opportunities, whilst keeping the fundamentals of a value-driven service delivery ticking over. Join our keynote speaker in this opening address to entrench your understanding of this widely used term, and consider the implications that the more modern version of transformation could have on you, your function and the wider business.

 

BENCHMARKING:

10:00 AM Global Workforce Management – How Can You Get the Most from Talent in Your Region

Employee engagement is a critical tool to drive the value of human capital further. Get this wrong, however, and you risk depleting your organisation’s human resources, and worse, open your talent up to competitors. With currently only 13% of employees engaged in their roles across 142 countries worldwide, which dips into single figures in specific regions, organisations need to effectively understand and use their people’s talents, skills and energy. The potential here is palpable!
Join this benchmarking session to see where you fit on the global scale, and learn more about how to combat the frightening levels of disengagement globally.

 
Managing Partner
Gallup		  

PANEL:

10:30 AM Talent Management Spotlight

Recently, innovative talent management has centred on Generation Y and social media. But has creating a corporate profile on Facebook actually worked, or are we focusing too much on gimmicks and not enough on giving rising stars what they actually want?
Engage with our panel and drill deeper into these basic questions to guide your approach to align better with strategic objectives:
• Who do you want to work for your business?
• What are innovative ideas, and what are counter-productive gimmicks?
• What can you offer them that makes a difference?
• How do you know what your people really think of your current approach?
• What can you offer them that is unique, or at least competitive?
• What are the gaps between your desired corporate culture, and the reality?

 

Thorsten Porger

HR Director Europe & Country Coordinator
B/E Aerospace Systems GmbH

  
 

Stuart White

Global Head of Human Resources & Training
Citco

  

11:15 AM Structured Networking Break & Supplier Meetings

INTERACTIVE STREAMED SESSIONS BEGIN:

11:45 AM No presentations – just peer-to-peer exchange on the hottest issues on your agenda

Choose from ‘Traditional HR’, ‘HR Technology’ or 'Corporate HR' to grapple with these core focus areas. And feel free to switch between the streams if you want to learn about more!

*Access to the Corporate HR Boardroom is by invitation only. Contact us to see if you qualify: enquire@iqpc.co.uk

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM
11:50 AM *Pre-Qualification necessary

An invite-only executive meeting limited to 25 senior HR leaders to engage in in-depth boardroom-style discussion to establish corporate perspectives on current HR issues and trends.

STREAM 1: TRADITIONAL HR

TRADITIONAL HR
Keen to find out how to deliver value?

Keen to find out how to deliver value? Join this stream to discover the latest trends, tips and innovations to deliver value through HR.
Covering topics such as:
Cost Control, Labour Arbitrage, Streamlining, Process, Delivery Models, Automation and more.

STREAM 2: HR TECHNOLOGY

HR TECHNOLOGY
A new addition to the 2014 agenda

In line with your current priorities, dive into fresh topics through
industry-leading case studies to chart your route to
enabling HR further through technology

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM

What is the CHRBoardroom?

Accessible only by personal invitation, the Corporate HR Boardroom is a private meeting with executive peers, designed to enable you to focus on and debate the issues facing HR at the strategic level.
Free-flowing and tailored to meet the requirements of the most senior Corporate HR Leaders, this meeting focuses on discussion-based interaction, rather than traditional presentations.
This is your unique opportunity to connect with your Corporate HR peers, and discuss your challenges freely and frankly.

STREAM 1: TRADITIONAL HR

Recruitment: Back to Basics

Tackle HR’s Achilles heel by grappling with the following challenges:
• Recession-proof candidate selection to ensure financial motivation is just one element of selection
• Assess the value of competency test metrics versus interpersonal skills and attitude when considering long-term implications
• Outstrip the competition by developing best-in-class acceptance and rejection practices

  Baron
HR Director
SCA HYGIENE		  

STREAM 2: HR TECHNOLOGY

Change the Way Your Company Works

Software enablement offers HR Directors and C-Suite executives more opportunity to gain actionable insights into the deluge of HR data. Make sure you are aiming for the right outcomes, as outlined below:
• Streamline, modernise and add precision to hiring practices
• Increase workforce productivity and connect employees in ways that impact business results
• Modernise and enhance the way your company currently operates

 

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM

12:25 PM Introduction to Boardroom

12:30 PM Boardroom Discussion begins

The Boardroom agenda will cover the following points, across a free-flowing agenda:

1) The Changing Role of HR: Responding to Corporate Challenges

  Joe Connor
Chief HR Officer
The Post Office		  

Please select

Innovative HR Analytics Demonstration:
The Power of HR IT Collaboration at Metro

Delivering to a workforce of over 120,000 FTEs, the HR team at Metro had their work cut out to deliver a useful, integrated technology platform to drive HR analytics.
Rather than turn to technology providers, Udo Stauber leveraged a collaborative HR/IT partnership to develop an in-house platform to deliver actionable insights to HR executives and corporate stakeholders across 28 countries.
What’s more, he will demonstrate just how it works live in this session. See how the new dashboard:
• Helps the HR front line effectively manage and monitor performance.
• Delivers live analytics to drive workforce planning
• Offers comparisons to determine the efficiency of the organisation in different countries

  Udo Stauber
Director HR Organization Development, Processes & IT
Metro AG		  

STREAM 1: TRADITIONAL HR

HR Process Standardisation

Developing a corporate brand through HR requires a comprehensive HR process framework, delivering standardised, scalable and repeatable services.
• Get insight into how to refine process complexity to achieve a principle-based framework
• On-board internal stakeholders to ensure minimal disruption during the process standardisation project
• Realise the true value of standardisation in the context of developing the role of HR internally, and your external company brand

 

 

1:10 PM HR TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

This is your opportunity to quickly and effectively assess the products and services on offer in the exhibit hall and their potential value to your organisation.
One lucky Demo Drive participant will take away an iPad Mini!

1:30 PM Networking Luncheon and Supplier Meetings

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM

2:30 PM

2) Next Generation Human Capital Management



3) Strategic Delivery Models – Are You Set Up to Deliver Value?

STREAM 1: TRADITIONAL HR

Supporting HR Through Process Optimisation

When executing change management programmes, a lot is expected from an unknown quantity.
Have these questions answered to set your change management programme on the path to success:
• How do you mobilise, design and implement at pace?
• How can you make sure you keep it cost effective, business focused and sustainable?
• Which types of people do you need to help drive the programme successfully?

STREAM 2: HR TECHNOLOGY

Evidence Based HR: Demonstrate Your Worth

Leverage the benefits of comprehensive data integration technology to achieve:
• Increased quality—Improve your HR data quality and confidence in the numbers
• Standardize—Rely on repeatable HR processes to more clearly identify trends
• Improve insight—Drill into HR data to demonstrate key metrics to business partners

CORPORATE HR BOARDROOM

3:00 PM

5) HR IT - Strategic Enabler or Organisational Quicksand?

Please select

HR Cloud Implementation: What’s The Reality?

Identify how key HR competencies, such as compensation, goals, performance, talent management, succession planning, recruitment, on-boarding and learning are enabled through the cloud.
• Discuss the context and drivers for pursuing a cloud strategy
• Identify key factors in the selection of software providers and implementation partners
• Design an approach for building organisational support

  Eddie Deignan
Director EMEA HR Shared Services & HRIS
EMC		  

 

 

3:30 PM

3:00 PM Delivery Models – Captive vs. Outsourced vs. Hybrid?

Share insight on the best routes to drive value through HR services delivery by comparing and contrasting the potential of differing delivery models.
Consider these points:
• How effective can internal chargeback be monitored when compared with contracted delivery?
• What are the most valuable advantages of having a multi-source delivery model?
• Is it possible to switch with minimal service disruption?

  Laura Beleya
HR Director
Iron plc.		  

STREAM 1: TRADITIONAL HR

3:30 PM Paying Your People, Improving Performance: The Crux of the HR - Finance Collaboration

A recent independent survey showed that 43% of finance executives determine changes to rewards programmes, compared to 42% for those in HR. So are you working together to ensure you harmonise payment, rewards and incentives?
Share thoughts on business value of Finance-HR collaboration to:
• Ensure you promote a collaborative culture from your function to best serve the wider business
• Make the most of the opportunities offered by multi-functional SSCs and partnership
• Develop a strong and cohesive employee reward strategy

  Mats Holm
Director People Development
SKF Group Headquarters		  

STREAM 2: HR TECHNOLOGY

Consolidating Global HR Management System (HRMS)

Do you have a global HR ERP system and look for business benefits from it? Do you plan the development of global HR processes and an enterprise solution and would like to do it ‘in the right way’?
Here’s how:
• Develop a strategic long-term view on HR processes and systems
• Align Corporate and local HR processes
• Realise business value from global SAP HR solution by aligning HR processes, system functionality, with your operating model

  Sergei Polianski
Director of HR Excellence
Japan Tobacco International		  

 

4:00 PM Networking Break & Supplier Meetings

Please select

4:30 PM Pick one:

- UK & IRELAND
Capitalise on workforce resilience and the recent surge in domestic and migrant talent to update internal skill sets

- BENELUX
Respond to criticism that these are the least engaged workforces in Europe and design innovative strategies to reignite your people’s passion

- DACH
Address interpersonal development within a highly process-driven corporate environment to combat workforce disengagement

- NORDICS
Explore opportunities to welcome migrant/offshore talent to delivery models

- EASTERN EUROPE
Tackle market saturation from organisations seeking to leverage labour arbitrage

- MEDITERRANEAN EUROPE
Tailor your approach to Recruitment and Retention within the context of the economic/employment crisis in your region

- GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Discuss how to develop a global corporate culture that unites thousands, but also flexes to meet diverse interests and perspectives

Please select

REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES:

Choose from one of the following to understand how Talent, Corporate Culture and Management differ drastically from region to region. Join these interactive discussion sessions for peer-to-peer exchange of best practice, common challenges and shared goals particular to your region.

 

5:30 PM The Evolution of Skilled Workforces in Emerging Markets – Are You Positioned Correctly to Reap the Rewards?

Charting the evolution of Human Capital Markets since 2010 indicates that there is a trifecta of success that leading organisations follow when tapping new talent potential at local, regional and global levels. Quality, Cost and Sustainability are key factors when considering recruitment, development and achieving long-term corporate objectives too.
Join the final session of the day to open your mind to the possibility that there are talent pools out there that have yet to be drunk from!

6:00 PM Chairman's Closing Summary

6:15 PM Networking Drinks Reception

Join the Summit team to celebrate our 14th Annual European HR Summit, and newly added Corporate HR Boardroom.
Included as part of this networking event will be additional opportunities to meet new contacts, exchange business cards and enjoy some down-time to reflect on the day’s insights over a drink or two.
Light entertainment and refreshments will be provided to help you unwind after a long day of conferencing. Relax with your peers to compare and contrast your learning so far.

 

 

Conference Day Two

8:30 AM Delegate Check-In & Networking

9:00 AM Chairman's Opening Remarks

AWARD WINNING KEYNOTE:

9:10 AM Customer Satisfaction Objectives: The Fallout…

Scottish Power’s HR Service team undertook a comprehensive programme to achieve specific customer satisfaction objectives over the past 12 months. Using Net Promoter Score and other tools, they achieved significant improvements in satisfaction scoring from internal customers.
This session celebrates their strategy’s success, but also examines the critical importance of the by-products of customer satisfaction, and how these simple tools can be used to support future success in other areas. Not to be missed!

 

 

Fionna Ross
Head of HR Consultancy
Scottish Power

  

CASE STUDY:

9:50 AM DHL: Utilising Customer Relationship Management Tools to Guarantee Enhanced Service Delivery to Your Business

DHL’s innovative approach to SSC management has become well known in the industry. From process management to integrated systems management, leaders at DHL are profiting from the benefits of a 21st century service delivery. No more is this the case than when it comes to guaranteeing the satisfaction of internal customers. Using net-promoter score measurements, Michelle Martin-Taylor has driven internal customer satisfaction up from +23 points to +67, simply through a relentless focus on customer feedback, and turning that insight into practice.

  Michelle Martin-Taylor
VP HR Organisation – Europe
DHL		  

PANEL SESSION:

10:30 AM Question Time with HR’s Most Influential

Join industry experts as they take to the stage to discuss your most pressing challenges. Submit your questions in advance to be in with a chance of them addressing your concerns directly, and raise your hand to make comment on their thoughts.
This is your chance to have your questions answered by HR’s most influential. Don’t miss out!

11:00 AM Structured Networking Break & Supplier Meetings

Stream 1: TRADITIONAL HR

TRADITIONAL HR
11:30 AM Keen to find out how to deliver value?

Join this stream to discover the latest trends, tips and innovations to deliver value through HR.
Covering topics such as:
Cost Control, Labour Arbitrage, Streamlining Process, Delivery Models, Automation and more.

Stream 2: HR Technology

HR TECHNOLOGY
A new addition to the 2014 agenda

In line with your current priorities, dive into fresh topics through
industry-leading case studies to chart your route to
enabling HR further through technology

Please select

Keep Pace with Organisational Change:
11:35 AM Shifting into Next Generation HR to Build Effective HR Business Partnerships

Failing to keep up with change in other parts of your organisation could leave HR left behind:
• Share your fears on being left out in the cold, and more importantly, discuss strategies to keep your finger on the organisational pulse.
• Keep internal knowledge up to speed through effective training and development within HR. Implement continuous improvement programmes to maintain focus on new goals and objectives.
• Optimise your governance model to ensure strategic leadership can clearly understand your organisation and where opportunities lie within it

Stream 2: HR Technology

Embracing Technology:
Managing People & Technology to Get the Best from Technology Investments

Explore in more depth and detail how to approach and successfully effect the change in organisations that is being driven by technology.
• Embed analytical thinking into the HR function and your business partners to drive a cohesive approach to accepting the change
• Build up an effective data analytics team – hire correctly, and harness internal talent to bring together knowledge and talent in one unit
• Align HR analytics efforts with business imperatives to gain corporate buy-in
• Get hands-on with your data: take ownership of data integrity, cleansing and reliability

  Patrick Coolen
HR Metrics & Analytics Director
ABN AMRO Bank N.V		  

Stream 1: TRADITIONAL HR

12:10 PM Taking HR Seriously: Effectively Demonstrating Your Value to Stakeholders

Enabling your HR function with hi-tech analytics tools and innovative services enhancements offers some value to key stakeholders. But how can you make them your champion?
• Pinpoint methods of demonstrating untapped opportunities
• Develop an organisational reputation for excellence, and deliver against it
• Secure internal sponsorship to become a value-adding business partner

  Mats Holm
Director People Development
SKF Group Headquarters		  

Stream 2: HR Technology

Making Sure HR has the Right Tools to Run Efficiently

Jonathan Roud’s sole focus for the past 18 months has been to test and trial the efficacy of tools to deliver the desired outcomes and efficiency to deliver HR services to the DLA Piper business. Join this session to:
• Understand the complex requirements of your business in simple terms
• Translate customer need into a language technologists can understand
• Examine technology from a user’s perspective to determine its real value

  Jonathan Roud
HR SSC Director
DLA Piper		  

 

12:50 PM Networking Lunch & Supplier Meetings

PROCESS OWNERS ROUNDTABLES:

1:55 PM Choose from one of the following to discuss the particular requirements placed on specific HR Processes.

Whether your focus is to develop talent, ensure your staff are rewarded, or to deliver cost-effective centralised HR services, this is your chance to drill into the gripes, tactics and tips at the granular level with peers with shared goals. What’s more, if there’s an area you’re completely new to, or are thinking of developing within your organisation, jump in to a new discussion for practical advice and guidance from those already on that journey!

- Talent Management
- Payroll Innovation
- Compensation & Benefits
- Training & Development
- HR Analytics
- Workforce Planning

INSPIRATION SESSION:

3:00 PM Investing in Grassroots HR Development to Deliver Holistic Services

Join Mohammed Shoaib Baig charting his journey from humble beginnings to the top tier of HR management within this global telecoms provider.
Draw parallels from his development, and the work he has done to promote offshore HR services within a challenging environment.
Could you invest more in your people, now you know what’s possible? Find out, here.

  Mohammed Shoaib Baig
Chief HR Officer
Telenor		  

3:45 PM EUROPEAN HR SUMMIT 2014 Prize Draw Ceremony

To celebrate your achievements at and contribution to the summit this year, we have introduced a new awards series to acknowledge just how much you influence the success of our events.

Join in this peer-led acknowledgement of outstanding contributions across the 3 days, and commend those who have delivered something truly remarkable.
Winners will feature in our Summit Awards Showcase, to be distributed as part of our post-show report across our global community of HR executives. (PLUS: The prizes aren’t bad either!)

Categories include:
Best Speaker 2014
Networking Champion 2014
Best Technology Demonstration 2014
Best Sponsored Session 2014
Best Case Study 2014
Most Likely to Make an Impact in 2014

4:00 PM Chairman's Closing Remarks

4:15 PM Summit Farewell

4:30 PM Close of Conference

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I receive my conference material?
Your conference handouts will be distributed on the first morning of the conference (unless otherwise stated in the event program). Additional conference material will be made available on a temporary website after the event. You will be provided with access details for this website at the conference.

When should I pay for the conference?
Payment must be received prior to the conference.

How should I pay for the conference?
Payment can be made online by credit card.

Are the meals included?
Yes, all refreshments and conference lunches have been carefully selected to offer you the best in banqueting. Check the agenda for times.

Can I register onto a workshop at the conference venue?
Yes, you may register onto workshops on site and our registration personnel will be happy to help you.

How many attendees will be at my conference?
This varies for each conference. Please do ask at our registration desk if you would like us to assist in facilitating meetings with anyone present to ensure you receive maximum benefit from the day.

How can I get to the venue?
The hotel phone number is listed within the conference information. Once registered, you will receive a Hotel & Conference Venue Location Map. Details are also available on the Venue & Accommodation page. Please contact us if you require any further information or assistance.

What about accommodation?
The cost of the hotel accommodation and travel is not included in the registration fee. Details of the accommodation options are also included within the conference information, and on the Venue & Accommodation page. To take advantage of our corporate accommodation rate, please quote that you are attending an IQPC conference when making your reservation.

What should I wear?
The dress code at the conference is business casual. The speakers usually come in business attire.

Special Needs
If you have any special needs, disabilities, and/or dietary restrictions that we may address to make your participation at our events more enjoyable, please do let us know when registering.

Delegate Substitutions and Cancellations
Please view our cancellation policy.

Will I receive any information from you in the mail?
After the conference, from time to time, you may receive brochures on related topics.

 

 

 

More Background On EuropeanHRSummit.com

 

The website EuropeanHRSummit.com served as the official website for the European HR Director Summit, an influential conference that brought together senior human resources leaders, industry experts, and technology providers from across Europe and beyond. The summit focused on strategic workforce management, HR transformation, talent development, and the growing role of data and technology in managing global organizations.

During the early 2010s—when human resources departments were undergoing a major transition from administrative functions to strategic business partners—the summit positioned itself as a place where HR executives could explore new ideas, share best practices, and develop strategies to guide their organizations through complex workforce challenges.

Hosted in London and supported by a global network of corporate sponsors, speakers, and HR professionals, the summit emphasized collaboration and peer-driven discussion rather than traditional lecture-style conferences. EuropeanHRSummit.com served as the central information portal for the event, providing details about the agenda, speakers, sessions, logistics, and registration.

Even years after the summit’s most active period, the archived content of the site provides valuable insight into how HR leadership priorities evolved during a transformative era for global businesses.

The Purpose and Vision of the European HR Director Summit

The European HR Director Summit was designed as a high-level strategic forum rather than a conventional trade conference. Its organizers aimed to create an environment where senior HR executives could discuss complex workforce issues with peers facing similar challenges.

The core mission of the summit was to:

  • Help HR leaders transform their departments into strategic business partners
  • Provide insight into workforce analytics and HR technology
  • Explore global talent management strategies
  • Address organizational change and leadership development
  • Encourage collaboration among multinational organizations

During the early 2010s, HR departments were increasingly expected to contribute directly to corporate growth and competitive advantage. Conferences such as the European HR Director Summit emerged to help executives understand how to align human capital strategies with business objectives.

The summit focused particularly on large organizations and multinational corporations, where workforce complexity required sophisticated systems, data analytics, and leadership frameworks.

Location and Venue: London as a Strategic Hub

One of the defining characteristics of the European HR Director Summit was its location in London, one of Europe’s leading financial and corporate centers.

London provided several advantages for an international HR conference:

  • Accessibility through major global airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick
  • Proximity to headquarters of multinational companies
  • A strong professional services sector including HR consulting firms and technology providers
  • A well-established conference infrastructure

Many major European conferences are hosted in London because the city serves as a gateway between North America, Europe, and emerging markets.

Participants attending the summit often combined the conference with meetings with regional business partners, consulting firms, or technology providers based in the city.

Conference Format and Structure

The summit followed a structured multi-day agenda designed to maximize both learning and networking opportunities.

Typical conference activities included:

  • Keynote speeches by senior HR executives and industry leaders
  • Case studies from global companies
  • Panel discussions featuring multiple experts
  • Interactive breakout sessions
  • Vendor showcases and technology demonstrations
  • Peer-to-peer networking events
  • Roundtable discussions focused on regional workforce challenges

Unlike many large conferences where attendees passively listen to presentations, the European HR Director Summit emphasized interactive dialogue.

Small group sessions encouraged participants to exchange experiences, debate strategies, and explore practical solutions to HR challenges.

This approach reflected a broader trend in executive conferences toward collaborative knowledge sharing.

Core Themes of the Summit

HR Transformation

One of the primary topics discussed at the conference was the transformation of HR departments from administrative units into strategic partners within organizations.

Executives explored how HR could contribute to corporate growth by:

  • Improving workforce productivity
  • Supporting innovation
  • Enhancing employee engagement
  • Developing leadership pipelines

The summit emphasized the importance of aligning HR strategies with overall business objectives.

Talent Management and Workforce Mobility

Talent management was another major theme of the conference.

Organizations across Europe were facing challenges such as:

  • Aging workforces
  • Skill shortages
  • Global competition for talent
  • Changing employee expectations

Conference sessions examined strategies for:

  • Recruiting high-potential employees
  • Retaining top performers
  • Managing international assignments
  • Developing leadership programs

Workforce mobility—particularly within multinational companies—was seen as essential for fostering innovation and maintaining competitive advantage.

HR Technology and Analytics

The rapid growth of HR technology was a defining topic of the summit.

Companies were increasingly adopting tools such as:

  • Cloud-based HR management systems
  • Workforce analytics platforms
  • Talent management software
  • Employee engagement tools

These technologies enabled HR leaders to analyze workforce data and make more informed decisions about hiring, retention, and organizational structure.

The summit included demonstrations and case studies showing how companies were implementing these systems to improve operational efficiency and strategic planning.

Global Workforce Strategy

Another important theme was the management of international workforces.

As companies expanded into new markets, HR leaders needed to address challenges such as:

  • Cross-cultural leadership
  • Global talent mobility
  • International compliance and labor laws
  • Workforce planning across multiple regions

The conference explored strategies for building global HR frameworks while still accommodating local cultural and regulatory differences.

Notable Speakers and Industry Representation

The European HR Director Summit featured speakers from a wide range of multinational companies.

These speakers often included:

  • Chief Human Resources Officers
  • HR Directors from major corporations
  • HR technology executives
  • Consultants specializing in workforce strategy
  • Leadership development experts

Companies represented at the summit have included organizations from industries such as:

  • Finance
  • Telecommunications
  • Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Technology
  • Retail

The presence of speakers from major corporations provided attendees with real-world insights into how leading organizations were addressing HR challenges.

 

EuropeanHRSummit.com