Sunita Jethwa

An accomplished HR leader with 20+ years of experience building and scaling HR functions in an array of industries from inception to maturity in high-growth environments, from startups to global corporations. Proven expertise in leading complex international transformations, M&A integrations, and designing people strategies that directly support commercial objectives and drive market-leading levels of employee engagement.

Fractional HR Director - FlyingB Apparel Ltd

(2025-04)

A founder led British fashion start-up company

• Working directly with the Founder, ensuring the business is legally robust, ethically grounded, and culturally aligned with its creative vision ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
• Building the entire people framework from the ground up, including employment contracts, employee handbooks, and workplace policies ensuring the brand is legally compliant.
• Designed a lean, agile recruitment strategy for the first 5-10 critical hires.
• Defining the brand's core values and translating them into a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

Fractional HR Director - X Y Z Geodesy Ltd

(2025-07)

Construction and Surveying Services

• Own all HR-related statutory compliance, including rigorous management of CSCS cards, Right to Work documentation, professional qualifications and site training records, ensuring full audit readiness for main contractor supply chain reviews.
• Conducted a market salary review within the construction surveying sector to ensure the company's pay and benefits packages remained competitive, supporting the retention of the Director's highly skilled technical team.
• Implemented and managed the company's Mental Health Strategy, including training Mental Health First Aiders, introducing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and embedding wellbeing into site safety briefings.
• Developed targeted retention strategies to combat the industry-wide skills shortage, including designing career progression pathways, for Junior Engineers to Senior Site/Setting-Out roles, project-based bonuses, and recognition programmes.

Fractional HR Director - Butcher, Robinson & Staples International Limited

(2025-02 - 2026-06)

A leading independent broker at Lloyd's specialising in international insurance and reinsurance

• Audited 45+ employment contracts and restructured broker commission models with deferred comp and clawbacks, eliminating 12 pre-IPO liability risks flagged by legal counsel.
• Conceptualised and executed the firm's first-ever Summer Internship Programme for 4 Russell Group undergraduates, incorporating FCA-compliant onboarding, structured broking/underwriting rotations, and a conversion pathway to graduate hires—delivering a sustainable talent pipeline showcased in the IPO ESG prospectus.
• Designed and implemented a full-cycle recruitment operating model, including an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) integration and structured competency-based interviews.

Fractional HR Director - Open Source Corporation

(2024-03 - 2024-12)

Founder-led tech and software recruitment agency

• Built core HR frameworks, policies, and onboarding processes tailored to a growing startup.
• Identify and pitch prospective clients to win new recruitment accounts.
• Leverage HR and recruitment networks to cross-sell agency services.
• Collaborated with founders to set sales targets and expand their market footprint.

Chief People Officer - Women's Best UK Ltd

(2023-03 - 2024-02)

A retail/ecommerce fitness sportswear and nutrition brand for women.

• Reported directly to three CEOs/Founders as a pivotal C-Suite leader.
• Established the London office as the new HQ for the Austrian parent company, replicating and scaling operations from the UK.
• Spearheaded a full diagnostic and overhaul of all HR systems, processes, and policies, implementing a new HRIS to drive global efficiency and compliance.
• Designed and deployed competitive global compensation & benefits packages and a new rewards & recognition program, boosting engagement metrics.
• Drove organisational design initiatives, introducing job levelling, standardised titles, and promotion frameworks to support scalable growth.
• Managed a global HR budget (£120k), UK payroll, and day-to-day London office operations.

Director, People & Culture - Neve Jewels Group

(2021-11 - 2022-11)

A disruptive leader in the retail luxury diamond jewellery market.

• Held dual reporting lines to the CEO/Founder and COO, overseeing HR for 300 employees across 3 brands and 7 countries (UK, Australia, NZ, France, Germany, Ireland, India).
• Developed and executed the Group's first formal HR strategy, enabling the transition from a start-up to a professional, scalable organisation.
• Defined and launched the company's vision, mission, and core values, supported by a new internal comms strategy and employer branding.
• Founded "Neve Jewels University," an internal L&D platform to foster continuous employee growth.
• Implemented foundational HR infrastructure, including job descriptions, levelling, salary bandings, and career development plans.

People Director - WePlay Ltd

(2021-05 - 2021-11)

A multi award-winning performance marketing agency for the sports sector.

• Spearheaded the creation of the formal HR function from the ground up, establishing core processes in recruitment, performance management, and compensation.
• Served as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, embedding a culture of excellence aligned with business objectives.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive suite of HR policies, ensuring robust compliance for scaling operations.

Talent Director - Anomaly

(2020-06 - 2021-04)

A marketing & advertising agency.

• Led the European rollout of key global HR initiatives, including DEI programs and Mental Health Awareness campaigns.
• Orchestrated the post-COVID-19 "Return to Work" strategy and implemented new remote onboarding procedures.
• Project-managed the implementation of a new HRIS and oversaw global payroll.

People & Communications Director - Basebone – UK/Spain

(2017-11 - 2020-03)

A privately-owned company specialising in OTT digital content media services.

• Established the global HR infrastructure from scratch to support the employee lifecycle across the UK, Spain, South Africa, and Cyprus.
• Project-managed the transition to a new global payroll provider (ADP), standardising operations.
• Designed and implemented a new, equitable pay structure to rectify disparities and ensure fair compensation.

Director of Human Resources - Advanced Oncotherapy Plc – UK/Switzerland

(2015-11 - 2016-11)

A publicly listed, growth-stage company pioneering a linear proton radiotherapy system for cancer treatment.

• Built the global HR function from inception, supporting operations across Switzerland, the UK, Netherlands, and the USA.
• Engineered a 1-year Global HR & Resourcing strategy, increasing headcount by 50% (from 40 to 80 employees).
• Achieved cost savings of over £450,000 through strategic resourcing and operational efficiencies.

Director of Human Resources - SKY Plc

(2014-09 - 2015-05)

Europe's leading entertainment company.

• Led a large-scale organisational restructure and redundancy programme, achieving cost savings of £1 million.
• Co-managed a team of 9 with oversight of approximately 870 employees.
• Acted as lead on a high-profile, complex disciplinary case involving 12 employees.

Global Head of Human Resources - ADM Promotions

(2008-11 - 2014-09)

The world leader in providing promotional bespoke products.

• Reported to the CEO, partnering with senior management across 12 countries (c.240 employees).
• Achieved cost savings in excess of £500,000 by implementing best-in-class recruitment practices.
• Project-managed complex international change initiatives, including acquisitions, restructuring, and TUPE transfers.

Multiple Roles - Career Break & Strategic Development

(2024-03)

• Entrepreneurship: Successfully launched and manage a professional beauty and massage therapy business, honing skills in client service, confidentiality, and business management.
• Volunteer Leadership: Serving as a Parent Governor for a local academy, contributing to strategic oversight and safeguarding policies.
• Counselling & Support: Volunteer Email Counsellor for Childline (NSPCC), providing critical support and guidance to vulnerable young people.

Casual Registrar - London Borough of Havering

(2025-05)

• Deputise for the Superintendent Registrar in performing marriages, Civil Partnerships ceremonies.
• Prepare and issue Birth, Death, Marriage and Civil Partnership Certificates, ensuring the correct fee has been collected.
• Registering births, deaths and stillbirths occurring in the Havering Registration District ensuring they are registered legally within the recommended timescale and in accordance with performance targets.
• Registering Marriages & Civil Partnerships solemnized at Langton's House and attend marriages at places of worship and other Approved Premises within the London Borough of Havering.
• Interview couples prior to the ceremony to ascertain the correct details and legalities are met.

GCSEs