HR Experts is based in Tunbridge Wells and our teams of HR specialists operate throughout the country. It is led by people who have made their mark in HR at the highest levels, particularly within the financial services industry. Significantly they have all set up and run their own companies and understand the issues facing business owners and managers.
Our People
- Alan Clarke FCIPD, MCMI - Director
- Neil Williams, FCII, MCIM, MNLP - Manager
- Amethyst O'Neill, MCIPD - Associate
- Julie Bass ACII, FCIPD - Associate
- Aidan Walmsley CMIPD - Associate
- Carol Misselbrook MCIPD - Associate
- Colin Davies
Alan Clarke FCIPD, MCMI - Director
A founder director of HR Experts Ltd, Alan began his career at Lloyd’s of London in 1972. He has worked in senior HR roles for Crown Life, Lombard Continental Insurance and Independent Insurance Group where he was one of the four founder General Managers and a main Group Board Director. His roles at IIG included Board responsibility for HR as well as UK Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions and finally as Group Director, International Division and President of the Group’s French subsidiary. He retired from executive duties with Independent in 1999 to take up a number of non-executive directorships.
In 2001 Alan set up HR Experts (previously Integrated Services Management Limited (ISML)) and in 2002 Insurance Compliance Services Limited.(ICS), an FSA compliance and regulation consultancy service which now services over 350 regular general insurance clients.
He has continued to study and develop his lifelong interest in people management and motivation and in 2002 qualified as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner.
Neil Williams, FCII, MCIM, MNLP - Manager
Neil brings a wealth of specialist knowledge from being a senior executive in both an insurance underwriting company and a regional schemes broker.
With over 35 years’ experience in the financial services sector, Neil has worked at senior management level for a number of insurance companies including Royal Insurance (UK), Lombard General Insurance and Independent Insurance Group, in sales, business development and operations.
He has spent the last four years as Managing Director, building and implementing the strategy of Deacon Insurance Services, focusing particularly on the development of the company’s property insurance schemes. He was responsible for the turnaround of Deacon by driving operational and sales change as well as rebuilding the reputation of the company with underwriters.
Neil has always been interested in people and communications and commenced his coaching training by studying NLP (Neuro Linquistic Programming) in 1997. Subsequent to this, he is a Master NLP Practitioner and a Member of the ICF (International Coach Federation).
Amethyst O'Neill, MCIPD, BA (Hons) Business Decision Analysis - Associate
Amethyst has gained a wealth of HR and Development experience both at a strategic and operational level during her 13 years as a senior HR practitioner. She started her career with Swinton Insurance before then working for Scottish Courage Brewing Limited and more recently, 3663 First for Foodservice as a key member of the divisional board.
She has experience of managing a team of HR professionals and leading them to provide excellent service to their customers to ensure that HR is considered a credible business partner both commercially and strategically.
During her career she has been involved in a number of key business projects including TUPE transfers and implementing HR and Payroll systems.
Amethyst is also qualified in Saville and Holdsworth psychometric testing and the Hay Evaluation techniques.
Julie Bass ACII, FCIPD - Associate
Julie has held a variety of general insurance and HR roles in the UK and Hong Kong since commencing her career with Lombard Elizabethan back in 1982. From 1998 she held the position of Strategy and HR Director for Groupama. With many years experience in the financial services sector, Julie has operated in strategic and senior managerial roles for over 15 years.
During her seven years with Groupama, she was a key member of the integration team following the merger of GAN with Lombard General in the UK. She was responsible for developing and implementing the strategic planning processes across the whole UK business in addition to her HR duties.
Julie has in-depth practical and conceptual knowledge and experience across the full spectrum as both a leader of a department of 30 plus HR professionals and as a strategic planner. A recent achievement involved the transformation of an operational and decentralised HR function into a centralised service centre creating an enhanced strategic capability. This resulted in a 42% reduction in headcount and a 35% reduction in the operating costs of the function.
Julie is currently studying to become a Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner.
Aidan Walmsley CMIPD - Associate
Aidan has nearly 20 years’ experience in both strategic and operational HR roles, primarily in financial services, but also in the commercial sectors including engineering, shipping, IT and utilities.
He has operated as an employer, buying recruitment services, and as a recruitment consultant. He has also established his own advisory service for SMEs within East Anglia, covering the whole range of HR support, including strategies for attracting and retaining staff and the management of staff issues such as disciplinary and sickness issues, terminations and redundancy.
Carol Misselbrook MCIPD - Associate
Carol has spent her career in generalist HR roles with over ten years’ hands-on experience. She has managed an HR team within the Lloyds Market, successfully taking them through the IIP standard.
Her knowledge of market practice and the commercial needs of the industry has led Carol to work within the requirements of the FSA and other regulatory bodies to tackle competence and training issues by providing a balanced approach to regulation.
More recently she has worked as an HR consultant, specialising in employment law for SMEs. Carol considers her strength as being able quickly to identify the criteria for implanting HR strategies in compliance with the FSA regulations and acting as a remote and on-site HR Department.
Colin Davies
After 15 years in sales, sales management and general management Colin moved into a senior HR role with responsibility for developing all the HR and People Development systems for a significant Insurer. This included competency protocols, staff handbooks, appraisal processes, disciplinary procedures, company car policies etc.
The key benefit of involving Colin in your HR development is that he is from a business background not HR and therefore understands the challenges a business faces in dealing with its people and getting the most out of them.