At a glittering ceremony at Claridge’s in London last night, HR magazine, in association with Ceridian, announced the 50 most influential thinkers and practitioners in the industry.
On receiving his certificate Fairhurst, senior vice president/ chief people officer at McDonald’s Restaurants Northern Europe, said: "I can’t emphasise how important it is to be recognised and appreciated by peers. I want to thank my brilliant team and my CEO for their support. I think it is vital that we represent the HR profession as best we can."
Clare Chapman, director-general, workforce, National Health Service, was voted number two on the most influential practitioners list – the highest rank for an HR practitioner in the public sector. Stepping up to the podium, she said: "This is a massively important time for our profession. We have huge challenges to face this year - but I look forward to seeing some really innovative practice which we can celebrate this time next year. My real hope is that we'll all use our leadership and the HR profession to secure rather than erode trust in the workplace and be proud of how we've handled the downturn".
Dave Ulrich was unable to attend the event due to prior commitments in America, but sent some words via video link. He said: "I am extremely humbled and honoured to be voted Most Influenetial for the fourth year running."
Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice at London Business School, was ranked number two in the Most Influential thinkers list, the highest place for an academic based in the UK. She said: "A major recession has made things difficult for HR – but recessions are wonderful opportunities for innovation and for well held views to be legitimised. This year has brought a much more team-centred approach to HR."
The top 30 Practitioners
| 1 | David Fairhurst | Senior vicepresident/ chief people officer McDonald's Europe |
| 2 | Clare Chapman | Director general, Workforce National Health Service |
| 3 | Martin Tiplady | Director of HR Metropolitan Police Service |
| 4 | Imelda Walsh | HR director Sainsbury's |
| 5 | Angela O'Connor | Chief people officer National Policing Improvement Agency |
| 6 | Liane Hornsey | HR director Google |
| 7 | Vance Kearney | Vice president HR (EMEA) Oracle |
| 8 | Caroline Waters | director of people and policy BT |
| 9 | Theresa Proctor | HR director Tesco Stores |
| 10 | Richard Smelt | Group HR director Northern Rock |
| 11 | Catherine Glickman | group managing director, HR Tesco |
| 12 | Helen Giles | HR director Broadway |
| 13 | Stephen Dando | Executive vice president and chief HR officer Thomson Reuters |
| 14 | Stephen Moir | director of people, policy and law Cambridgeshire County Council (and ex-president of PPMA) |
| 15 | Ann Almeida | Group managing director, HR HSBC |
| 16 | Dave Gartenberg | HR director Microsoft UK |
| 17 | Gillian Hibberd | corporate director (people, policy and communications) Buckinghamshire County Council and president of the PPMA |
| 18 | Rachel Campbell | Head of people management KPMG |
| 19 | John Ainley | Group HR director Aviva |
| 20 | Tanith Dodge | HR director Marks & Spencer |
| 21 | Gareth Williams | HR director Diageo |
| 22 | Paula Larson | Executive vice president HR at Invensys |
| 23 | Graham White | Director of HR Westminster City Council |
| 24 | Anne Copeland | HR director Department for Children, Schools & Families |
| 25 | Kevin White | Director general for HR at the Home Office |
| 26 | Alan Walters | Vice president, HR Unilever UK & Ireland |
| 27 | Stephen Kelly | Group HR director Logica |
| 28 | Claire Thomas | Senior vice president,HR at GlaxoSmithKline |
| 29 | Madalyn Brooks | HR director, UK and Ireland Procter & Gamble |
| 30 | Hugh Mitchel | Global head of HR Royal Dutch Shell |
The top 20 Thinkers
| 1 | Dave Ulrich, | Professor of business, University of Michigan |
| 2 | Lynda Gratton, | Professor of management London Business School |
| 3 | Linda Holbeche | Director of research and policy CIPD |
| 4 | Jackie Orme | Chief executive, CIPD |
| 5 | Will Hutton | Chief executive at The Work Foundation |
| 6 | Cary Cooper | Professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School |
| 7 | Rob Goffee | Professor of organisational behaviour London Business School |
| 8 | Adrian Furnham | Professor of psychology .University College London |
| 9 | Trevor Phillips | Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission |
| 10 | Duncan Brown | Director of HR business development at Institute for Employment Studies |
| 11 | Wayne Clarke | Managing partner Best Companies |
| 12 | Nick Holley | Director, HR centre of excellence Henley Business School |
| 13 | Andrew Mayo | Professor of human capital management, Middlesex University Business School |
| 14 | Paul Sparrow | Director of the centre for performance-led HR at Lancaster University Management School |
| 15 | Shaun Tyson | Emeritus professor of HR management Cranfield University |
| 16 | Richard Lambert | director general, CBI |
| 17 | David Guest | Professor of organisational psychology and HR management at King's College London |
| 18 | Brendan Barber | General secretary, Trades Union Congress |
| 19 | Maria Yapp | Chief executive, Xancam |
| 20 | Robert Peston | Business editor, BB |