Jenny Joins the Board of Directors

At the start of last year, Jenny stepped into the role of Director of Corporate Services, overseeing Operations, Systems, HR, Marketing, Contract Services, and Learning & Development. Now, following the close of Thor’s financial year, she has achieved another career milestone by joining the Thor Board.

We caught up with Jenny to reflect on this journey, explore what her Board appointment means for the business, and hear her advice for aspiring leaders.

1. Looking back to when you were promoted to Director of Corporate Services, how did that milestone prepare you for this next strategic step?

The promotion helped me prepare myself and my mindset in relation to my job. Moving from Senior Manager to Director requires a shift in focus, as you need to change how you approach your time and work. I have had to work on “stepping out” from the different departments for which I am responsible. Ultimately, when making that transition, you want to spend less time in each area, but with a higher impact and return on every minute you do spend. I believe this mindset shift and approach to my time, and how I value it, is the best preparation for how I am now approaching my responsibilities as a board member.

2. What new perspectives or ideas do you hope to bring to the Board, based on your experience in leading Corporate Services?

I hope to bring ideas and initiatives on how we can optimise our internal processes and save time for our employees in their day-to-day work. Through implementing efficient and clear workflows in Corporate Services, I have gained experience in change management and process improvement, which I believe can be applied to our sales floor. As the recruitment industry evolves and we have more tools available than ever before, it is important that we take full advantage of the opportunity to save time for our recruiters. However, it is equally important not to forget the human processes that technology or AI cannot replace—these processes also need optimisation to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible. These are the areas where I hope to have an impact.

In addition, I hope to bring a different perspective to the Board group, as the only female member and someone who has worked their way from Associate up to the board. I aim to contribute ideas and make a meaningful impact on our people and management strategies.

3. How do you see your dual roles – Director of Corporate Services and Board Member – complementing each other in shaping Thor’s future direction?

Through my day-to-day role in the Corporate Services function, I am always close to the company’s infrastructure and have a great opportunity to shape how it is set up and operates, ensuring the growth of Thor and our people. In line with what I have mentioned above, I believe that by being part of the Board I can provide input from the day-to-day work in Corporate Services earlier, which should have a positive impact on high-level business decisions. Similarly, based on decisions made at board level, I will be able to implement and work with those decisions directly within Corporate Services, which should improve the speed of implementation and change management. All of this contributes to ensuring optimal company infrastructure and efficiency.

4. Can you share one or two key initiatives in Corporate Services that you believe will have the greatest impact on Thor’s growth now that you’re on the Board?

We are currently working on several very exciting initiatives that I believe will have a significant impact on Thor’s growth, both in the short and long term. The two main initiatives being implemented at the moment are Project Thrive and our rebranding project to Mission Critical.

Project Thrive aims to enhance and improve the entire employee journey. We are shifting to a competence-based personnel strategy, with the ultimate goal of fostering a high-performance company culture at Thor, where our employees truly thrive. More communication on this project will be shared over the coming weeks, giving everyone insight into the positive impact these initiatives can have on their careers.

The rebranding project will strengthen our market position, and alongside this, we are improving our client offering through the TTS group and their initiatives. Over this financial year, I believe we will significantly enhance our market position and the service we provide to our clients. This, in turn, will facilitate more sales and a stronger brand, establishing us as trusted partners for our clients. The growth of both Thor and our people will be positively and substantially impacted by these initiatives.

5. What would you say to colleagues or aspiring leaders at Thor about the importance of internal development and seizing opportunities on their leadership journey?

Internal development is absolutely key to the success and growth of a company!

As someone who has always been very passionate about my work and the people I work with, I believe that you can genuinely only grow with the support of others – whether as a team, a group, or both. The success of my recent promotion, and now this next step, comes down to the teams and people I have had the opportunity to manage over the years, both in sales and now in VALAD.

My recent career achievements are largely thanks to the managers in the VALAD group, who have progressed in their careers and seized opportunities to grow, which in turn has allowed me to do the same. Without succession below you and people around you who want to grow alongside you, it is very difficult to achieve your career goals. Whether you are on the leadership path or the principal path, you need people around you moving in the same direction and sharing the same motivation.

My biggest advice is to invest time and engagement in the people around you – especially those you identify as key individuals who will help you seize the opportunities you are facing.

Jenny’s journey is a clear reminder of the value of internal growth and the importance of investing in people. From starting out as an Associate to now becoming a Board Member, her career path shows how seizing opportunities and supporting those around you can open doors to leadership.

As she takes on this new responsibility, Jenny will continue to shape Thor’s future by driving efficiency, strengthening our infrastructure, and championing our people. Her appointment not only marks a personal milestone but also reflects Thor’s commitment to developing talent from within and ensuring our leadership team is diverse, experienced, and aligned with our values.