Jenny Gardiner

Head of Research | UK

Irland, UK

Jenny is an experienced research and talent intelligence specialist with a strong track record supporting senior HR appointments across FTSE listed, PE backed and global organisations. With more than 15 years in executive search, she brings deep expertise in market mapping, talent insight and search strategy across People & Culture, Total Rewards, Talent and HR Operations. Jenny is known for translating complex market intelligence into clear, actionable recommendations and partnering closely with clients to shape insight led search strategies. With a calm, relationship driven style, she builds trusted partnerships and ensures organisations have the intelligence and talent pipelines needed for confident hiring decisions.

Looking for your next HR hire?

Submit a vacancy

Benchmark HR salaries around the world

Find out if you’re earning what you deserve.  Download our latest salary benchmarking guides to see how your pay compares across roles, industries and regions.

Our insights

View all

How to progress from HR Officer to HR Business Partner

Posted september 2, 2026

Contents Share Key insights For ambitious HR professionals, moving from an HR Officer or HR Generalist role to an HR Business Partner (HRBP) position is one of the most significant career milestones. This transition is more than just a change in job title and salary; it’s about evolving from delivering operational HR excellence to becoming […]

A smiling group of people at a meeting table

Employment Rights Act 2025: what HR leaders need to prioritise now

Posted augustus 26, 2026

Contents Share Key insights The Employment Rights Act 2025 and wider employment law reforms are set to bring some of the most significant changes to UK employment law in a generation. From unfair dismissal reform and statutory sick pay to workplace harassment, family leave rights and collective consultation requirements, employers face an increasingly complex compliance […]

Is AI the new ESG? HR’s role in shaping responsibility and readiness

Posted augustus 17, 2026

Contents Share Key insights At our recent roundtable dinner with a group of Chief People Officers, hosted by Nick Croucher and Jenny Gardiner, one theme consistently surfaced as both energising and unsettling. Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract concept or future ambition. It is embedded in everyday workflows, influencing decisions, accelerating automation, and reshaping […]

Why vacant HR leadership roles can slow growth in PE-backed businesses

Posted augustus 5, 2026

Contents Share Key insights Private equity thrives on momentum. In PE-backed businesses, value creation plans are tightly defined, timelines are compressed, and leadership teams are expected to deliver transformation at pace. In this environment, any gap in the executive team can have a disproportionate impact on performance. Yet HR leadership roles are often the positions […]

Close up of hands typing on laptop

The future of HR technology: key innovations shaping talent acquisition

Posted augustus 5, 2026

Contents Share Key insights Talent acquisition is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. As organizations compete for talent in increasingly complex global markets, HR technology is evolving rapidly to support faster, more data-driven and more personalized hiring processes. For HR leaders, the shift is no longer about incremental gains in efficiency. […]

The deadline smashing department

What are the biggest hiring challenges facing HR teams in global legal and professional services firms?

Posted juli 28, 2026

Contents Share Key insights Global legal and professional services firms have long set the pace for talent strategy, particularly in major markets such as London and New York. As these firms grow through international expansion across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, navigate economic uncertainty, and respond to shifting workforce expectations, […]

article-thumbnail

How CPO roles in PE backed businesses are going to market

Posted juli 15, 2026

Contents Share Private equity moves fast. Value creation timelines are compressed, expectations are high, and every leadership hire carries disproportionate weight across portfolio companies. Within any private equity backed business, the management team is under constant pressure to deliver against the investment thesis – driving valuation, strengthening cash flow, and ultimately improving business performance. Yet, […]

When transformation can’t wait: turning strategy into action with interim HR

Posted juli 14, 2026

Contents Share Transformation has become a constant priority for organisations across Europe. From responding to economic uncertainty and regulatory change to adopting new technologies and meeting evolving workforce expectations, businesses are under growing pressure to adapt quickly. The challenge is no longer defining strategy, but executing it effectively and at pace. This is where interim […]

Female manager leading a team discussion

Where should HR leadership sit in a global business? How US and European organisations are taking different approaches

Posted juli 8, 2026

Contents Share As organisations expand across markets and regions, the question of where HR leadership should sit is becoming increasingly important. Historically, decisions about the location of senior HR leaders were often influenced by company headquarters or established organisational structures. Today, however, businesses are taking a more strategic approach, aligning HR leadership and broader HR […]

Get in touch