Mike Watts takes on Professional Development Director role at CIPD

Mike Watts has joined the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development as Professional Development Director. He joins from the Cabinet Office, where, as Director of HR Transformation, he led initiatives to professionalise HR across the UK civil service. Previously he had a long and successful career at Lloyds TSB, where he started out in business development and line management roles, before moving into progressively more senior director roles in Personnel and Development.

The Professional Development Director is responsible for leading strategies for the growth of CIPD membership and for maintaining and developing the high standards and relevance of CIPD professional qualifications and their application. The role, at the heart of the CIPD and its work, provides an opportunity to act as a leading spokesperson and advocate for the profession in its relations with business, government, and education and training providers.

Geoff Armstrong, CIPD Director General, said:

ìMike Wattsí decision to join the CIPD in this key role is a real boost for the people management and development profession. The CIPD has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Mikeís appointment will help us advance our position as the professional body for all those involved in the management and development of people. With his impressive track record across business and government, he will add another powerful voice for the profession to our top team, and strengthen the role we play in promoting the value and importance of excellent people management and development.

ìIn the last 10 years our membership has grown from 75,000 to over 127,000. We have achieved this while maintaining rigorous and internationally respected professional standards. Mike will help us achieve our ambitious targets for further growth in membership, while ensuring that our standards reflect the increasingly diverse career paths within the field of people management and development and the needs of employers.î

Mike Watts, CIPD Professional Development Director, said:

ìI am looking forward to working at the CIPD to ensure the key role that people management and development professionals have to play at the heart of modern business is fully realised. CIPD standards and membership are the hallmark of effective, continuously learning professionals. We need to keep close to employers, members and prospective members, and to the providers of the professionís training and development, to ensure we are all equipped to manage and lead in the rapidly changing world of work.

ìOur task is to ensure that we remain one of the best run and most respected professional bodies in the world, while adapting to meet the needs of our current and future members ñ at every stage of their careers. The CIPD has built an enviable position and we need to ensure it is, and remains, the must-belong institute for all those involved in the management and development of people. I am committed to maintaining and building on its position of strength.î

Summary biography for Mike Watts:
Professional career to date:

1990
Joined Black Horse Life, the life assurance division of Lloyds Bank, where he held a variety of business development roles.

1995
Became Head of Learning and Development, and then Head of HR at Black Horse Life.

1998
Becomes Head of Group HR Projects at Lloyds TSB, managing the people aspects of post-merger projects.

1999
Seconded to Scottish Widows during their merger with Lloyds TSB, to manage the people aspects of the merger at Scottish Widows. Appointed to the permanent role of HR Director at Scottish Widows during this time.

2000
Appointed HR Director of the whole Insurance and Investments Division at Lloyds TSB.

2004
Director of HR Transformation, UK Civil Service, based in Cabinet Office. Responsible for accelerating progress in securing value from people management practices across the civil service.

2007
Joins CIPD as Professional Development Director.

Other roles:

2005-present: Chairman, OECD Working Party on Public Employment and Management.

2002-2005: Non-Executive Director for the Scottish Executive.

Family and interests:

Mike Watts is 47. He is married, with a son aged 11 and a daughter aged 14.

Mike played hockey at regional level, representing the South of England, and now plays for the national Scottish Veterans team. He also enjoys skiing and golf.