Alliance Trust puts staff development at centre of growth with new appointment

FTSE-250 investment and financial services group appoints Peter Hart to lead organisational development initiatives.
Alliance Trust, the leading investment and financial services group, is putting the development of its staff at the heart of its expansion by appointing Peter Hart as Organisational Development Consultant. Peter has nearly 20 yearsí experience in professional and organisational development with blue-chip financial services companies, most recently as a Regional Director at Citigroup Asset Management, where he was responsible for staff development and wealth management training for the Asia Pacific region from 2000 to 2002, prior to setting up his own successful consultancy business.

Peter has been an external adviser to the group on several organisational development initiatives, including the introduction of a competency-based performance management system and the development of the Alliance Trust Academy Leadership Programme, a bespoke management development suite designed to develop the specific competencies the management team require to lead the company into the future.

Alliance Trust Chief Executive Alan Harden said, ìIn a highly competitive business environment where matching corporate competencies to changing customer needs is critical, we recognise that people are our greatest asset. Many companies say this without really meaning it, but we know that it is our people who create the key points of differentiation which give us our competitive edge. Essentially, we are a people business in the financial services space. Peter brings world class blue-chip organisational development experience to Alliance Trust and through his work with our management team, he has done a great deal already towards helping us achieve our goal of becoming the brand of choice for people who think seriously about their financial planning.î

Peter Hart said, ìEffective corporate learning is a critical lever of business performance and the key to innovation. Alliance Trust is a much admired organisation with an impressive track record of delivering value to investors, which recognises just how crucial corporate learning is to achieving its ambitious and innovative growth plans. As the company moves into new business spaces, its success will be driven by its capacity to adapt, evolve and transform itself through its people and their ability to learn, grow and develop. This is a great moment to be joining the company and to have the opportunity to contribute to what I believe will be a very exciting future.î

Prior to joining Citigroup in 2000, Peter was Head of Training and subsequently Senior Manager Business Development with Standard Chartered Bankís Global Investment Services division from 1996 to 2000. While at Standard Chartered he worked with management teams in more than ten countries to develop and implement strategies to drive business development and staff effectiveness, contributing to exponential annual business growth during that period.

Previously Peter was based in Britain, working in training and business developments roles for Lloyds Bank and Hill Samuel Investment Services Group. Before entering the financial services industry, he was Deputy Head Teacher of an Inner London School. Peter studied English and Sociology at Canterbury University, New Zealand, and trained as a teacher at Christchurchís Teachers College. He has a Master of Arts degree in Education from London University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Surrey.