Finally succumbing to the suggestions of his peers, Peter began his training at UWL while continuing to work full time.

I was studying on day release from my job. It was challenging, but then you don’t really find anything challenging when you enjoy it. It didn’t feel like work. I’m a lifelong learner, and I’m a very people-oriented person so it excited me and motivated me. In that sense, it made it easy, and it made me want to learn more.”

Through connections from the food industry, Peter was put forward for an HR position at travel company RCI, though at the time he didn’t quite have enough experience for the role. Not to be deterred, he still went for it, and his personality and background encouraged them to offer him the number two position, giving him two years to train under a consultant before rising to the head of HR.

It was here, at this American owned business, that Peter got a taste for working across different cultures. He enjoyed experiencing the country-specific ways in which companies approached work. Over the next 20 years, this curiosity would play a big role in determining Peter’s career trajectory.

The next step was a Japanese investment bank, which went bankrupt less than six months into Peter's role, meaning he was instrumental in closing down the office. While stressful, this proved to be an invaluable experience.

It’s a very emotional time for people. It’s a very different culture that you’re trying to manage, but it was a fast-track experience that really helped me to learn a lot about dealing with differing cultural attributes, winning face, losing face, saving face.

We’re very lucky in the role of HR that our roles are transferable. You can work in any industry; you just have to be excited about the world you’re in.”

After several key roles across the retail sector, including Claire’s Accessories, Peter returned to London and invested five years as People Experience Director at ASOS.com, before serving as the Chief People Officer for the fashion and lifestyle brand Ted Baker.

Ted Baker is usually people’s first step into the premium space so it remains very aspirational and accessible. People feel special when they receive a Ted Baker gift. It’s quintessentially British, is globally loved and is a key destination for fashionable products of high quality and great value.”

More than anything else, Peter cares about helping people grow, realise their ambitions and evolve beyond their expectation. He is also an Independent Board Governor at De Montfort University.

Be ever-curious and be bold. These are the qualities that got me where I wanted to get to. Never be afraid of a hierarchy, just pursue what you want to pursue, as respectfully as possible. Initially, that might be on other people’s terms, but as you evolve be sure to have a clear direction for where you want to go, and be sure to explore and stretch yourself along the way.”