Consumer delivery company Hermes UK has appointed its first Chief People Officer. 

Penny Garnett will take up the newly created role, working alongside the Executive Committee, to lead Hermes UK’s people strategy and vision working with Jill Maples in her new role of People and Culture Director.

Garnett’s remit at Hermes includes driving cultural change within the business as it continues on its strong growth trajectory, ensuring that its people are able to adapt. 

This will include looking at aligning practices and approaches for employees, self- employed contractors and agency staff. 

She will also be looking at ways of addressing the industry driver shortage from within the business and focussing on senior level succession and talent planning.  

Commenting on her new role, Garnett said: “I am excited to be joining one of the most dynamic businesses in the UK that is right at the heart of the changing retail and ecommerce sectors. 

“Now more than ever, it’s people who make the difference between a good business and a great one and it is this ethos that will form the foundation of everything I intend to implement.”