Ruth Osgood

Senior People Leader with 14+ years of experience shaping HR strategy for high-growth technology and professional services organisations. Proven ability to influence C-suite stakeholders, lead complex change initiatives (M&A, TUPE, HRIS), and drive data led workforce decisions. Adept at balancing commercial objectives with employee experience, compliance, and DEI outcomes.

Esri UK - (software and professional services company) 

Head of People (09/2021 to present) 

• Partnered with CEO and SLT to design a HR roadmap supporting 30% revenue growth, aligning talent strategy with commercial goals for 500+ employees across three tech and professional services companies.
• Led on complex ER cases, including gross misconduct, grievances, settlements, and long-term absence management, achieving a 100% resolution without tribunal involvement.
• Coached 50+ senior leaders on ER, performance management, and hybrid working, reducing leadership-related grievances by 35%
• Led cross functional teams through multiple TUPE transfers (both in and out), ensuring seamless transitions whilst maintaining 92% retention post-transfer. Harmonised policies across acquired teams to align with company standards.
• Implemented automation for end-to-end onboarding across departments, cutting processing time by 60% and improving new hire satisfaction through a seamless digital experience.
• Partnered with key leaders to align policies so they were GDPR and employment law complaint.
• Created leadership programmes that reduced turnover by 12% and grew internal promotions by 25%, strengthening succession planning, and tracked this through dashboards.
• Boosted engagement scores 20+ points through hybrid work policies and real-time DEI dashboards, earning top quartile industry rankings.
• Led data-driven compensation reviews that reduced gender pay gaps by 20% while optimising £20M+ annual overhead budget.

HR Business Partner (10/2014 to 09/2021)

• Spearheaded the implementation of Ceridian Dayforce (HRIS), integrating payroll, ATS, LMS, Comp&Bens, Succession planning and appraisals into one platform. This reduced manual data entry errors by 40% and provided leadership with real-time workforce analytics.
• Developed and executed a commercially driven HR strategy encompassing the full employee lifecycle—from talent acquisition tooffboarding—for 3 business entities (500+ employees). Ensured all people initiatives were directly aligned with organizational growth objectives, driving workforce scalability, engagement, and retention metrics.
• Implemented automation for end-to-end onboarding across departments, cutting processing time by 60% and improving new hire satisfaction through a seamless digital experience.
• Drove 60% intake growth on the Graduate Programme while achieving90% 5-year retention through structured development, mentorship, and rotational assignments
   

2014 Oxford Brookes University: Master of Arts: Human Resources Management - level 7

2013 Oxford Brookes University: Certificate of Higher Education: Certificate in HR Management

2012 Milton Keynes College: Certificate of Higher Education: Human Resources Practices

2011 University of Birmingham: Bachelor of Science: Sports Science