João Kalusi

Strategic and commercially focused HR professional with 15+ years of documented experience driving people strategies, organisational change, and HR transformation across multiple environments. Known for partnering with senior leaders and managers to resolve complex people matters, strengthen organisational effectiveness, and align workforce priorities with business strategy. Strong track record of leading global HR programmes, supporting HR technology implementations, managing employee lifecycle activity, and using people data to inform workforce decisions.

Influential leader who coaches stakeholders through transformational change, builds trusted relationships, and collaborates effectively with HR Centres of Excellence. Brings a pragmatic, data-informed and improvement-focused approach, combining strategic HR partnership with hands-on delivery across diverse employee populations and international markets.

Interim Human Resources Manager - Counter Terrorism Policing - South London

(2025-01)

Manage HR transformation and business improvement activity, coordinating service changes within a complex organisational environment. Review operating models, resourcing processes, and policies while working with HR colleagues and stakeholders to support consistent service delivery. Track risks, issues, dependencies, and progress across multiple workstreams, keeping the Business Improvements Lead informed of delivery status.

• Streamlined the vetting process by reducing duplication and addressing over-vetting, improving employee experience.
• Supported the replacement of Oleeo with an Oracle HR system to advance HR system capability.
• Delivered the migration to SharePoint to support improved HR information management.
• Introduced Frappe as a new HR automation tool to support more efficient HR processes.
• Led the development and implementation of an HR Business Partnering function for CTP HR, supporting a more strategic and consistent HR service model.

Interim Human Resources Partner - Marks and Spencer - London

(2024-01 - 2025-01)

Partnered with Software and Engineering leadership to provide HR guidance across client groups, aligning people activity with business requirements. Advised managers on employee relations, talent succession, and organisational design. Managed people data, workforce planning, and structural change activity to support effective workforce decisions.

• Coached executive leaders and people managers on employee relations investigations and development planning.
• Shaped HR strategies focused on talent succession, people process improvement, and organisational design.

Senior HR Business Partner - Symphony Communications - Remote

(2020-01 - 2024-01)

Executed global HR strategies and programmes across Europe, the US, and APAC, supporting product & engineering, corporate development, customer experience, sales, and account management. Guided managers on employee relations, talent matters, and business challenges while managing the employee lifecycle from onboarding through development to termination. Maintained legal compliance and coordinated immigration and mobility requirements across markets.

• Implemented engagement surveys, performance reviews, DEIB initiatives, and training programmes to strengthen employee experience and organisational effectiveness.
• Coached managers on applying the company's talent framework to address business and workforce challenges and foster high-performing teams.
• Led global HR projects and programmes, coordinating implementation across diverse regions and functions.
• Supported the firm-wide Workday implementation across HCM, Recruiting, Integration, and Advanced Compensation modules, streamlining HR processes and system functionality.

Interim Human Resources Partner - Marks and Spencer - London

(2019-01 - 2020-01)

Partnered with Digital Tech and Data leadership to provide HR guidance, action planning, and delivery of people initiatives. Managed people data, workforce planning, and departmental structural changes across client groups.

• Coached executive leaders and people managers on employee relations investigations and development planning.
• Shaped HR strategies to strengthen business performance through talent succession and people process improvement.
• Applied quantitative people data to provide business leaders with informed workforce support.

Interim Human Resources Manager - Jaguar Land Rover - Hybrid, Gaydon, Coventry

(2018-01 - 2018-12)

Managed regional HR strategy and generalist support across employee relations, performance management, recruitment, compensation, training, and development. Partnered with senior management to align workforce requirements with business strategy and supported field and corporate populations. Maintained HRIS activities and provided regular people data analysis for client groups.

• Led quarterly talent reviews with senior leadership to strengthen bench strength and succession planning.
• Designed and delivered performance management and leadership development training through sales meetings, outlet meetings, and new employee onboarding summits.
• Delivered quarterly HR data analysis and reporting to support workforce decisions.

Interim Human Resources Business Partner - Sky - Osterly, Middlesex

(2016-01 - 2017-01)

Aligned people strategies with business priorities across Marketing, Partnerships, Corporate Development, Corporate Strategy, and Communications. Coached senior leaders through transformational change and partnered with HR Centres of Excellence on people programmes and processes. Supported organisational design, change management, acquisition integration, and programme rollouts across the business.

• Implemented people-data processes to identify organisational health trends and support workforce decisions.
• Delivered change activity spanning reorganisations, organisational design and acquisition integrations.
• Developed HR programmes with teams covering people operations, career development, global mobility, total rewards, recruitment, D&I, and education.

Interim Generalist EMEA - Coty (Procter & Gamble)

Interim HR Operations Specialist - NewDay Cards Ltd

Interim EMEA HR Advisor - ManpowerGroup Solutions RPO

Interim HR Specialist EMEA - Duracell Procter & Gamble

Interim HR Advisor - Morrison's M Local

HR Manager - Marks and Spencer

BA - Broadcast Media - Brunel University London

Level 5 - HR Management - CIPD

Level 3 Certificate - HR Practice - CIPD

Certification - Data+ - CompTIA

Foundation - BCS Business Analysis - Bradfield Group

BTEC National - Network Computing - Sir George Mounx College