Judges of The Croner Employer of the Year

Albert Ellis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Harvey Nash Group, a global professional services organisation that specialises in executive and technology recruitment, strategic leadership services and outsourcing. Albert has over twenty years business experience and is of the view that engaging the next generation of highly mobile global talent, will increasingly form the major challenge for larger companies now that growth is returning. Albert has championed Talent Management throughout his career and is passionate about the acquisition and retention of Human Capital.

After a year running the Students Union at Nottingham University Andy join Bass plc on their graduate scheme, staying for 5 years across a number of roles in retail leisure including an enlightening two years managing Bingo clubs. In 1998 Andy left to join a technology start up business, carrying out an MBO in 1999 before growing the business year on year up to its sale to an AIM listed plc in 2006. During this time Andy was named as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner in 2005 and the business was twice listed in the Deloitte Fast 50 technology awards and also in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100. In 2006 Andy joined NCC Group plc to head up its ethical computer hacking division, growing that from £2m in 2006 to the £40m business it is today. In 2010 Andy joined the board of Wolters Kluwer in the UK as MD of the Croner Consulting business.

Why has Andy decided to judge the National Business Awards?
"I am delighted to be part of the judging process for the National Business Awards as they really do reflect the fantastic array of talent that the UK has to offer. In a tough economic climate these Awards demonstrate that great leadership and a focus on delivering a quality product or service to meet the ever increasing demands of customers will still result in business success".

One of three Executive Directors and reporting direct to the CEO, Simon is responsible for leading the development of a reformed and refocused Commission, following the Arm’s Length Review of all Non Departmental Public Bodies by the new Coalition Government. In addition to his corporate role as part of the senior leadership team, he is directly responsible for the delivery of the largest of the Commission’s four priority areas of work, to “Galvanise Employer Investment in Skills”. This market driven approach includes three specific strands of work; developing and creating a compelling vision for sector leadership of skills, managing £60m /annum investment funds to stimulate employer skills investment, sector by sector and repositioning and promoting Investors in People as a key business improvement tool. He is responsible, as the lead Director for Scotland, for managing the strategic relationship with the Scottish Government at the time the Scottish National Party takes overall control. He is also responsible for developing the International strategy of the Commission following successful work to build the Commission’s relationship with India and the recent co-operation agreement which has been signed with their National Skills Development Corporation.

Peter Whitehead joined the FT in 1987 and has held several posts, including editorial training manager, Deputy Weekend FT editor, Special Reports editor, Digital Business editor, and now editor of FT Executive Appointments.

Peter grew up in Blisworth, a Northamptonshire village, and went to secondary school in Towcester. He graduated in law from the London School of Economics in 1979 and became a journalist, working for the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, Coventry Evening Telegraph and Golf World Magazine.

He is married with two daughters and lives in Claygate, Surrey. His favourite diversion is music – as both listener and performer.

Why has Peter decided to judge the National Business Awards? 
"Being a good employer is the biggest step an organisation can make towards attracting the brightest people – and I want to know who those employers are and what they look like. From previous experience, I know the standard is high and each has an uplifting story to tell".