Director of People and Culture
The Role:
Aardman
The Client:
Aardman, the independent, multi-Academy Award and BAFTA-winning animation studio, is globally recognised for distinctive and highly acclaimed entertainment. From iconic feature films and television series to games and interactive projects, their productions are novel, entertaining, brilliantly characterised, and full of charm. As this industry leader continues to push creative boundaries and deliver visually compelling content worldwide, they sought our assistance once again.
We have built a long-term relationship with Aardman, serving as their go-to partner for key senior appointments. This collaboration has supported their evolving leadership needs, including campaigns for their Executive Commercial & Brand Director, Director of Marketing, and Trustees, alongside a major leadership consulting project. For this engagement, we were tasked with identifying a Director of People and Culture who could shape the next chapter of Aardman’s journey.
The search campaign, involving a strategic blend of advertising and direct headhunting, was orchestrated by Simon Quinn, Moon’s Director of Search. The Aardman brand attracted significant market interest. Coupled with our targeted approach, this resulted in a large pool of candidates who matched the brief, requiring an intensive early period of the campaign as we crafted a long list for consideration with key stakeholders. Simon guided Aardman’s board through these discussions and provided independent advice throughout the entire process.
Following this phase, we conducted interviews to assess each candidate's cultural fit for Aardman and analyse the positive impact they could provide. We presented a final shortlist, containing an in-depth report on each individual. We are delighted that Aardman proceeded to appoint one of our recommended candidates, Helen Beard.
Helen is a strategic and influential HR Director with extensive experience in leading global HR teams, driving business transformation, and fostering high-performance cultures. She excels in employee engagement, organisational design, and leadership development, with a strong presence at the C-suite level. In her previous role at Mulberry Group PLC, she oversaw a significant period of transformation, enhancing support for growth and developing a people plan to underpin the business strategy. Helen’s open and honest leadership style aligns perfectly with Aardman’s values. Her proven experience working with creative teams and influencing decision-making at a global level makes her the ideal leader to help achieve the studio's future goals.
Sean Clarke, Managing Director at Aardman, commented:
“Once again, we turned to Moon, given our successful relationship, and once again, they delivered. Simon provided an excellent long list and was extremely helpful in guiding our initial discussions, offering a valuable independent panel viewpoint. We are delighted to welcome Helen to the Aardman family and look forward to working with her to position the studio for the next phase of our development.”
The Director of People and Culture role is a pivotal strategic position, providing expert leadership to the studio’s HR function. The core mandate is to develop and implement strategies that enhance employee experience, nurture creative talent, and future-proof the organisation. Aardman sought a senior leader with a strong foundation in people, culture, and HR strategy, ideally within a creative or media environment. Candidates needed a passion for creativity and an appreciation for the unique needs of an animation studio, alongside in-depth expertise in all facets of HR, from compensation to organisational planning.
Simon Quinn, commented:
“We were delighted to extend our partnership with Aardman on this senior appointment. This search campaign continues our successful long-standing relationship, through which we've supported the Studio with several key hires and provided specific leadership consultancy.”
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