Movers and shakers in HR July 2026 – Kier, Aegon and Halo - Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free.

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02/07/2026

Movers and shakers in HR July 2026 – Kier, Aegon and Halo

Our latest crop of senior HR appointments from June and July includes roles at Kier, Aegon and Halo. Compiled and edited by Zoe Wickens and Adam McCulloch.

Jo Hodge, Marshalls

Hard landscaping, building and roofing products supplier Marshalls has appointed Jo Hodge as chief people officer.

In her role, Hodge will lead the group’s people strategy, supporting continued investment in staff development, leadership capability and culture. She will also reinforce its commitment to developing a high-performing and inclusive culture across the business.

Hodge joins from Ibstock, where she spent four years as group people, sustainability and social impact director and a member of the executive team. During this time, she led the people strategy, focusing on organisational performance, leadership development and inclusion.

With more than 25 years’ experience across FMCG, logistics, financial services and construction, she has held senior people leadership roles at Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, JDE Peet’s and Unipart Logistics. She is also a member of the advisory board for BPIC Network, helping to increase the participation of ethnic minority individuals in the built environment sector.

Simon Bourne, chief executive at Marshalls, said: “Jo brings extensive experience in people leadership, organisational development and sustainability, alongside a strong track record of building high-performing and inclusive cultures.”

Niki Steel, Kier

Infrastructure services, construction and property group Kier has appointed Niki Steel to its executive committee as chief human resources officer.

When she joins in August, Steel will hold a key leadership role for the group and support the high performance of its 10,000 people. New chief operating officer Louisa Finlay, who previously held the role of chief people officer, will help support a smooth transition.

Steel joins from multinational engineering firm IMI, where she served as chief people officer for sector operations over the past two years. With a career spanning more than 20 years, she has worked across industries such as digital education media, visual effects, and home technology, for organisations including Pearson and Dyson Group.

Stuart Togwell, chief executive for Kier, said: “Niki is a fantastic addition to Kier and our executive committee. She is a highly experienced HR and operational leader, with a strong track record of driving performance across organisations in both the UK and across the globe. Her warm, energetic leadership style will play an important role in supporting all of our
people and growth ambitions.”

Steel said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining Kier, I can see so much opportunity for the group and I cannot wait to join. Working alongside Stuart and all of the executive committee, I am looking forward to getting into the business, hearing and listening to employees and supporting them to help drive forward the group’s ambition.”

Kamal Panglea, Morton Fraser MacRoberts

Law firm Morton Fraser MacRoberts (MFMac) has appointed Kamal Panglea as chief people officer to further strengthen its leadership team and invest in its people strategy.

Panglea will continue the firm’s focus on developing a culture that supports its people, drives performance and enhances the experience it delivers to clients.

He joins with more than 25 years’ experience in HR. Most recently, he served as people director for audit and assurance at Deloitte Middle East, based in Dubai, where he was responsible for 12 countries across the region, alongside additional responsibilities in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Prior to this, Panglea worked for the government of Saudi Arabia and spent 12 years at Lloyds Banking Group, based in Edinburgh and London. At the group, he held a range of roles across centres of excellence and business partnering, supporting large, complex organisations through change and growth.

Chris Harte, chief executive officer at MFMac, added: “Kamal brings a wealth of international experience and a strong track record of leading people strategies across complex organisations. His insight and leadership will play a key role as we continue to evolve our culture, support our people and deliver the best possible experience for our clients.”

Jennifer Palmieri, Aegon

Financial services firm Aegon has appointed Jennifer Palmieri as chief human resources officer.

Palmieri will also become a member of Aegon’s executive committee and succeed Holly Waters, who retired on 1 June.

Palmieri has more than 25 years’ experience leading HR strategy, operating model transformation, talent development and employee engagement. Most recently, she was chief people officer at Westfield Insurance, an international property and casualty insurance firm.

Prior to this, she spent nearly 18 years at health insurance provider Cigna, where she held several senior HR roles, including, most recently, senior vice president human resources officer.

Lard Friese, chief executive officer at Aegon, said Palmieri was a highly experienced HR leader with a strong track record of developing talent and supporting business transformation, who would “play an important role in supporting the transition of Aegon’s head office and legal seat, strengthening our people and leadership capabilities to support engagement and the continued growth of our organisation.”

Jennifer Liston-Smith, Halo

Jennifer Liston-Smith has joined Halo Workplace Nurseries compliance platform as chief purpose officer, adding her strong presence in employer best practice on family support to Halo’s leading-edge SaaS platform that enables employers to run workplace nursery partnerships.

Liston-Smith brings over 20 years’ experience in coaching, consulting and thought leadership with major client organisations in the area of working parents and carers and has advised many of the world’s leading employers on their programmes of family support.

Anna Semple, chief executive officer of Halo, commented, “Jennifer brings the ideal skillset with her deep experience in the needs of both employers and employees, her astute understanding of legislation and her values around business as a force for good. We’re extremely pleased to welcome her on board.”

Edinburgh-based Halo has been set up to help employers utilise the statutory provision for tax-exempt employee childcare. The software platform, many months in the making, helps employers run a compliant nursery partnership with robust evidence tracking their involvement in the management and financing of nursery settings.

Liston-Smith, a business psychologist, conference speaker and consultant, was previously director, head of coaching, consultancy and thought leadership with My Family Care where she built the coaching and consultancy provision drawing on her own pioneering work in this field. She went on to become head of thought leadership for Bright Horizons.

She said the Halo platform was much needed as a way for employers to operate nursery partnerships that comply with legislation and HMRC guidance. “It’s good for the labour market, for employers, parents and children. I’m very excited to be joining this innovative business with a mission.”

Julia Diggs, Blue Light Card

Blue Light Card, a discounts and reward platform for serving and retired frontline workers, has appointed Julia Diggs as chief people officer.

Diggs will join the executive team and lead the platform’s people strategy to support its continued growth and development.

She has more than 25 years’ experience across start-ups, scale-ups and large public and private organisations, within the energy, healthcare, media, retail and technology sectors. She has led organisational transitions, strengthening cultures and building the capabilities that allow businesses to scale.

Diggs joins from Ovo Energy, where she was most recently vice president of people. She steered a complex post-acquisition integration and built a progressive employment brand.

Diggs said: “Blue Light Card has built something special, a purpose-powered, tech-enabled organisation that makes a meaningful difference to millions of frontline workers across the UK. What immediately stood out to me was the strength of the culture, the behaviours and attitudes that are powering the strategy, shaping performance and fuelling growth.”