Anna Dennett Chartered Mcipd Email & Phone Number

Jersey

Jersey, United Kingdom

Jersey

Dambuster Studios is a new video games development company forged as a part of a takeover by Deep Silver. I was brought on board at the start to manage the TUPE process, create the full HR environment, recruit around 50 new staff to replace those that had left as part of the transition and retain existing staff. This target was achieved within the first 6 months. I reviewed the HR policies and procedures in line with legal, business and operational requirements to define a progressive solution for the business.Dambuster Studios operates a staff of 150 full time employees as well as a broad contract and outsource resource base.As well as setting up the complete HR lifecycle infrastructure, I have delivered extensive support and guidance as the business went through a difficult transition as part of the takeover. There were legal, contractual and morale issues that needing managing to retain and reinforce staff. Working as part of the senior management team and reporting directly to the Managing Director I deliver tailored business solutions to engage the employees and the business in a mutually beneficial environment.

Crytek is a global video games developer with 11 offices worldwide and 900 employees. My primary responsibility was to the UK studio and delivering the complete HR lifecycle with my team. I also operated as part of the global HR management team defining and implementing HR strategy across all offices to an industry not familiar or comfortable with HR.During my time at Crytek I delivered new bonus and reward strategies, a global Learning & Development programme and a documentation oriented self-help environment to interface more effectively with a technical workforce. The company was taken to an Industrial Tribunal which as head of HR I prepared for and successfully defended. The summation by 3 judges, which is public record, highlighted the efficiency and procedures that I had developed and implemented as vital to the success, and I was named specifically for my work developing the HR standards and processes as well as my case preparation. I was honoured to be asked to deliver a presentation at the Games Developers Conference in San Francisco (the largest video games conference in the world attended by hundreds of thousands of people). The subject was Developing Teams in the Games Industry. I delivered four talks, over three days. These talks were attended by conference delegates and the press.

Free Radical Design was a developer on contract to Lucas Arts to develop a Star Wars game. The hundreds of millions pounds’ development was a huge undertaking for the team of 250 who had previously won a BAFTA for Timesplitters. I was brought on board to bring operational strategies to the company as well as get the best out of their human potential. There was significant resistance to my appointment and the new role created for me. Media and Games was a new industry for me and so I set about, through a deeply collaborative engagement to bring about the required changes while getting the team and management on board. The process was hugely successful, so much so that when the company became part of Crytek I was offered the role of HR Manager and many of my processes and improvement were implemented in the new global company.

Capital One is an international bank and credit card operator. I was directly responsible for operational strategy, targets and development for 150 staff and managers. I was responsible for the day-to-day people management, HR mentoring and process development of teams within the department. I managed and mentored managers with regular meetings and training as well as listening to the teams and developing strategy and process in line with their feedback. I worked very closely with Senior Management in developing a strong infrastructure with a great team. Many of the processes I developed are still used in the business today, such as Controls reporting and adherence to the ‘Treating Customers Fairly’ guidelines, as set out by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).