Ryan Cheyne - Chief People Officer (the importance of creating amazing places to work)

In this episode I sit down with Ryan Cheyne who has been operating as a HR leader for almost 20 years.

Ryan's began his career in retail at Argos, quickly rising through the ranks to become a store manager before transitioning to HR. He talks about a hugely pivotal time at Pets at Home, where he tackled high attrition rates and focused on creating a positive workplace culture.

From this we learn about his belief that the most important thing in HR is creating amazing places to work. He emphasises that HR's role is fundamentally about ensuring that employees have a positive and rewarding experience in the workplace. This involves focusing on culture, values, and employee engagement while also ensuring that the basics—such as pay, disciplinary processes, and overall HR functions—are handled effectively. Ryan asserts that when employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to deliver excellent service to customers, ultimately leading to the commercial success of the business.

The discussion also covers Ryan's experience at rentalcars.com and his subsequent role at Flutter, where he continued to champion the idea that a strong people strategy is essential for business success. Throughout the episode, Ryan highlights the significance of building and maintaining professional relationships, the power of networking, and the impact of having supportive leadership in HR.

Notes

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🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Career Background (01:53 - 08:51)

• Ryan Cheyne introduced as guest on 'Is This Room Free?' podcast
• Ryan's current role: Managing Director of People and Culture at Flutter
• Ryan has 28 years of experience in HR
• Flutter owns brands like Paddy Power, Betfair, Tom Bowler, and Sky

🏢 Recent Career Changes and Market Conditions (08:51 - 13:29)

• Ryan recently left Flutter after a short-term contract turned permanent
• Discussion on current tough job market conditions
• Ryan looking for new opportunities since January

🌴 Upcoming Holiday and Egypt Discussion (13:29 - 20:25)

• Ryan going on holiday to Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh)
• Conversation about Egyptian tourism and visiting the pyramids

👔 HR Career Journey and Challenges (21:20 - 29:02)

• Ryan's transition from retail to HR leadership roles
• Discussion on the importance of company culture and values
• Challenges of balancing basic HR functions with strategic initiatives

🛍️ Retail Experience and HR Transition (30:19 - 45:12)

• Ryan's early career in retail at Argos and Topshop
• Transition to HR leadership role at Pets at Home
• Focus on reducing attrition and improving customer service through employee engagement

💼 Career Progression and Creating Great Workplaces (45:12 - 56:17)

• Move to Rental Cars.com and later integration with Booking.com
• Emphasis on creating great places to work and its impact on business success
• Importance of CEO buy-in for HR initiatives

🌐 Networking and Career Opportunities (56:42 - 01:14:12)

• Importance of maintaining professional networks
• Discussion on how past connections led to new job opportunities
• Ryan's approach to helping others in their careers

🎭 Career Start and Fate (01:15:26 - 01:21:59)

• Story of Ryan's unconventional start at Argos through his mother's intervention
• Reflection on the role of fate and creating one's own luck in career progression
• Podcast wrap-up and future plans for the host's business