Name: Rob Rees

Position & Organisation:Group Head of People & Culture at Hastings Hotels, Vice Chair at CIPD NI

Number of Employees: Approximately 1000

1. Give us an idea about your early life and career:
I grew up in South Wales and moved to Belfast in 2011. I started my HR career in L&D as a core skills trainer before growing my role and then becoming a People & Culture Leader.

2. What are the key challenges you face in your role?
Hospitality is facing lots of challenges but equally has lots of opportunities to showcase NI. People challenges currently: talent acquisition, especially specialist roles (like chefs) and adapting to complex proposed legislative changes and increased operating costs.

3. After a tough week, what’s your go-to for recharging and staying grounded?
Easy…. Refereeing a Rugby game.

4. What’s the funniest or most unusual thing that’s ever happened in an interview, and what did it teach you?
Funniest thing that happened to me during a virtual interview was a candidate being on Zoom in what looked like a toilet cubicle!

5. What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to someone aspiring to your role, especially in today’s fast-changing world?
Don’t set goals, set outcomes - you’ll always get an outcome and focus on that. Goals should become milestones on the journey to that outcome.

6. Imagine HR is a reality TV show—what would the title of your episode be?
Expect the unexpected, and always have the answer!