Verity Symes
Yalding,Kent
Summary
Strategic and commercially astute People and Operations leader with over 15 years’ experience operating at the intersection of people and commercial strategy within professional services environments. Trusted adviser to CEOs and Executive Committees, partnering to define organisational ambition, shape operating models, and align people strategy with business growth. Proven track record of translating complex strategic objectives into pragmatic, scalable frameworks that improve engagement, performance, governance, and sustainable commercial outcomes in both boutique, founder-led firms and matrixed global organisations. Recognised for combining strategic thinking with disciplined execution — building high-performing, accountable, and inclusive environments that enable both business and individual success
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior People Partner, UK Strategy & Communications & Global People Advisory
Teneo
2024.05 - 2026.02
- Senior HR Business Partner to the UK Strategy & Communications business and Global Executive Search business, providing strategic and operational people leadership across UK and US.
- Partner with CEOs to align people strategy with commercial objectives and growth plans.
- Trusted adviser to senior leadership on organisational design, workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, and people-related acquisitions.
- Member of UK Executive Committee, responsible for people reporting, governance and strategic workforce priorities.
- Member of UK Remuneration Committee, overseeing promotion, reward governance and compensation frameworks and leading pay initiatives, including responsibility for Gender Pay Gap reporting for UK business.
- Lead organisational design initiatives to improve scalability, accountability and succession.
- Drive engagement, productivity and retention through targeted leadership interventions and inclusive culture initiatives.
- Collaborate with regional HR teams and Centres of Excellence to deliver talent acquisition, succession and engagement strategies.
- Ensure compliance with UK employment law and mitigate organisational risk.
- Supported CEO transitions across two UK businesses in 2024, ensuring strategic continuity and cultural alignment.
- Delivered measurable engagement score improvements (+0.7 and +0.6) across businesses.
- Led leadership restructure within S&C to enable growth and succession planning.
- Reintroduced Graduate scheme and launched Apprenticeship programme (2025).
- Strengthened senior promotion processes to introduce greater rigour and objective assessment.
- Relaunched Senior Women’s Network to improve retention and leadership development.
Regional People Partner – EMEA
Teneo
2023.05 - 2024.05
- Regional HR Business Partner supporting leadership across EMEA during the establishment of a new People operating model.
- Embedded new People function model across multiple jurisdictions, clarifying governance and service delivery.
- Partnered with regional leadership to align people strategy with business growth objectives.
- Led cross-border organisational alignment initiatives.
- Acted as change partner during transformation, ensuring stakeholder alignment and sustained adoption.
- Provided guidance on complex multi-jurisdictional employee relations matters.
- Leveraged workforce data to inform regional people priorities.
- Founded and chaired the UK DE&I Steering Committee to align the 4 UK business lines on strategy and initiatives.
- Presented European People Strategy in Brussels to embed regional model adoption.
- Launched Women’s Breakthrough initiative to support progression of female talent.
Chief Operating Officer
Teneo People Advisory
2021.01 - 2023.05
- Promoted following acquisition to partner with CEO and global leadership to integrate the business and translate strategic ambition into executable operating plans.
- Strategic partner to CEO, shaping short- and long-term business priorities.
- Translated corporate strategy into scalable operating frameworks driving profitability and growth.
- Member of UK ExCo, accountable for enterprise-level execution.
- Led operational excellence initiatives to optimise client service delivery and financial performance.
- Embedded culture of continuous improvement and data-led decision-making.
- Strengthened cross-functional coordination to deliver corporate objectives.
- Oversaw client health, organic growth and at-risk accounts.
- Led contract negotiations, MSAs and RFP submissions.
- Provided operational and financial insight into client performance drivers.
- Aligned people strategy with commercial strategy.
- Championed inclusive leadership and high standards of people management.
- Delivered engagement and communication initiatives supporting integration.
HR & Operations Manager
Ridgeway Partners Ltd (Teneo People Advisory, upon acquisition)
2009.06 - 2020.12
- Led HR and operational management for boutique executive search firm, building scalable infrastructure and preparing the business for acquisition.
- Managed end-to-end HR, including recruitment, performance management, compensation, and employee relations.
- Partnered with Managing Partners on people strategy aligned to growth.
- Designed HR frameworks and governance structures.
- Introduced CRM, HRIS and enhanced board reporting.
- Managed invoicing, forecasting support and cost oversight.
- Ensured compliance with employment legislation including GDPR and pensions.
- Led transition to remote working during COVID.
Executive Assistant
NASA Multiplex LLC (Brookfield Asset Management)
2007.11 - 2009.05
- Supported CFO and Regional Financial Controller across Middle East & Asia operations. Responsibilities included board reporting, treasury reporting, legal administration, bond management (£200m+), credit committee coordination, and multi-entity compliance.
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Organisational Design & Transformation
- Executive Leadership Partnership
- Operational Excellence
- Workforce Planning & Analytics
- Performance, Reward & Governance
- Client Health & Commercial Insight
- Change & Cultural Transformation
- Employee Engagement & Leadership Development
- Multi-Jurisdictional Employment Law
Custom Section
London, England
Timeline
Senior People Partner, UK Strategy & Communications & Global People Advisory
Teneo
2024.05 - 2026.02
Regional People Partner – EMEA
Teneo
2023.05 - 2024.05
Chief Operating Officer
Teneo People Advisory
2021.01 - 2023.05
HR & Operations Manager
Ridgeway Partners Ltd (Teneo People Advisory, upon acquisition)
2009.06 - 2020.12
Executive Assistant
NASA Multiplex LLC (Brookfield Asset Management)
2007.11 - 2009.05