Head of HR EMEA, London (UK)

The Company

Our client is a global investment company with a diversified portfolio spanning financial services, technology, consumer and real assets. The organisation has nearly 1,000 employees worldwide, including 50 across London and Paris. Historically Asia-centric, the business has evolved into a global investor with a growing footprint across Asia, China, India and now EMEA. It operates as a commercially run, sovereign-wealth-style investor with strong governance, independence, and a highly respected HR function with true influence at the leadership table. The company continues to strengthen its presence in EMEA, creating opportunities for impactful HR leadership as it scales.

The Role

The Head of HR, EMEA will serve as the strategic HR partner for the EMEA region, supporting ~50 employees across the UK and France. Based in London, the role reports directly to the CPO in Singapore, with a dotted-line relationship to the EMEA business leader. The remit spans organisational effectiveness, talent management and development, succession planning, performance, capability uplift, and embedding global HR frameworks locally. While this is a senior advisory role, the lean regional setup requires hands-on delivery in areas such as ER, policies, restructuring and employment law navigation. The environment is fast-paced, culturally nuanced, and evolving, offering both complexity and high visibility with senior stakeholders.

The Individual

The ideal candidate will bring strong strategic HR business partnering experience, ideally from financial services, investment management, private equity, or similarly dynamic global environments. Experience working across UK and France is essential, with solid understanding of employment legislation in both jurisdictions. Candidates should be adept at operating in matrixed, global organisations, influencing senior leaders, and adapting global frameworks to local contexts. Proven capability in talent development, organisational change and leadership effectiveness is key. The individual will be agile, pragmatic, culturally adaptable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity. Strong judgement, credibility, and the ability to manage up and down the hierarchy are must-haves. Fluency in English is required; French is advantageous.