Q&A with Andrew Kennedy
Posted on: Monday 19 February 2024
Author: FPM
We are delighted to welcome Andrew Kennedy as our newest Lay Trustee at FPM. With his diverse experience in HR, Andrew brings a unique perspective to our team. Find out more about Andrew and his background.
Tell us a bit about your background
My day-job is to run the HR and volunteering directorate for English Heritage: we’re the charity which runs the National Heritage Collection – historic monuments across the country which tell the story of England (including Stonehenge, all of the sites at Hadrian’s Wall, the Battle of Hastings battle-site, Dover Castle, The Cenotaph, Wellington Arch, IronBridge, the London Blue Plaques, etc.) We have c.2,500 employees and c.4,500 volunteers.
Prior to English Heritage I was Head of HR for Asthma & Lung UK and, previously, Head of HR Shared Services for Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. In my earlier career I was a headhunter-recruiter for ten years (managing large assignments for Unilever, BBC, Hewlett Packard, Sky and the British Army) and worked in high-street banking for five years.
Andrew Kennedy
What does your job at English Heritage entail?
My role is to support the CEO and the Board to ensure that our people have the capability to perform their roles effectively and that we support their career development; that the organisation is structured efficiently and sensibly; that workloads are manageable; that the working environment is good; that our leaders are stretching, engaging and supportive; that a culture exists where people speak up if things don’t feel quite right; that practices are in place so that working relationships are strengthened and trust is deepened; that we’re paying people properly and rewarding their contribution; and that our employer and volunteer brand is positioned in such a way as to attract and retain great talent.
How do you see yourself in the role of Lay Trustee?
I see my role at FPM as being one where I support the President, the Trustees and the CEO with ensuring there is good governance in this great charity, that the organisation is well run, that it represents value for members and that the strategy and business plans are delivered, but with paying particular attention to all things people and culture.
Aside from your professional life, what sort of activities/hobbies do you enjoy?
Outside of work I love family time, I am a football referee, I enjoy choral music, golf and cycling. I am married to a NHS consultant physician and live in Cambridge.