“HR can be a blind spot for Directors” Gareth Jarman, Director, Gentium International and IoD Mid Wales Chair

I was born in South Africa and brought up in Wales. My dad was a foreign news editor which, combined with having half my family based overseas, gave me a broad perspective on world events. I have always greatly enjoyed and maintained an international side to my work – it is in my DNA and has led me to connect with people all over the world.

I studied business management in Bournemouth and Manchester and then in Hong Kong. I recognised that people and responsible business leadership, are the beating heart of any enterprise. HR isn’t an admin function; it is one of the key components to running a successful business.

Early on in my career I worked in well-managed multinational corporates where I saw how progressive thinking drove forward-looking teams, cultures and ways of working. At Standard Chartered Bank I was part of a team tasked with transforming the global HR function which included working in some challenging emerging market territories, but the complexity made it all the more rewarding. It was fascinating to see how quickly a bold HR strategy with board backing could pay dividends.

I learned a lot of about the importance of company culture and values when I worked at Arup and this was underlined during my eight years serving as a British Army Reservist, both as a combat medic and in logistics. I got to go to some amazing places and work with amazing people doing amazing things. I learned about the importance of teamwork, resilience and working with the kind of people you really want to be around.

These military experiences have also given me the courage to forge my own path, including setting up my own consultancy seven years ago. Careers evolve and now I apply my 25 years of experience to support organisations, large and small, all over the world.  The difference is I now do this as my own company, Gentium, where I can guide what we do and where I can set my own company culture and values in supporting clients.

HR can be a blind spot for Directors and over my 25 years, I have seen how employment has become increasingly litigious. I would urge IoD members to invest in a robust HR infrastructure suited to their organisation and set a positive company culture with values and behaviours which apply to everyone. And if you are working internationally, never assume things are done the same as they are at home. Be curious, ask questions.

I am proud to be based in the Brecon Beacons in Wales and being part of the IoD is great platform to promote this region. I joined in 2018 because I believed in the IoD values and support the idea that good directors make good businesses which is better for society as a whole.

The opportunities offered by the IoD to participate in government and policy discussions are both engaging and empowering. As IoD Mid Wales Chair I have met with UK and overseas government representatives, ambassadors and international trade delegations from countries including Canada, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Sierra Leone. The opportunities to contribute, learn about new and interesting developments alongside like-minded colleagues with the same values, brings the best out of people and it is great to be part of that.