Honorata Sarnecka

Currently Director of People & Culture at Bespin Global, the Middle East's largest public cloud managed services provider, where I sit at the executive level alongside the CEO, CFO, CTO and VP of Operations. My remit extends beyond the traditional people function to include Facilities and Administration across UAE, KSA and remote locations.

Eyewa is the region's leading omnichannel multi-brand eyewear hub present in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain Kuwait, and Oman. I was hired lead the people function, and support the expansion of the stores across all the markets.

Responsibilities:
•Work closely with the leadership team to identify People team's priorities and agree on a strategy for the department
•Audit current policies and processes, redesigning them as needed to ensure efficiency and legal compliance across the markets
•Implementation of the company grading system and compensation strategy to attract and retain key resources
•Assessment of the company culture and implementation of culture reinforcing initiatives
•Improvement of the employee experience through:
•Redesign of the on boarding process
•Opening new internal communication channels and surveys
•Review and re- design of the Reward and Recognition initiatives
•Creation of company wide development opportunities through implementation of performance management process and Learning and Development programs
•Creation of talent pool for business critical resources
•Reimplementation of the HRMS and attendance system for the shift employees to achieve effective HR system support and optimal payroll efficiency

TBO.COM is a global proprietary technology platform that aims to simplify all buying and selling travel needs of travel partners across the world. TBO is the leading B2A (Business to Agents) travel portal across the Americas, UK & Europe, Africa, Middle East, India, and Asia Pacific. I was hired to lead the People function for the International Business covering all 47 geographical locations outside of India. Responsibilities:
•Work closely with the leadership team on various HR initiatives across the Geographic locations
•Drive the transformation of TBO into a multinational organisation on regional level
•Help to establish and implement processes from grounds up (Bands and grades, Performance appraisals)
•Act as an advisor to the leadership team on cultural, legal and compliance matters for each region
•Support building of employee engagement by rolling out various initiatives (TBO touch and HR Help Desk)
•Support implementation of Darwin Box HR system
•Manage people cost while maximising value for employees and organisation
•Conduct risk assessment and review current operating model for each geography, identity legal liabilities and propose cost effective solutions
•Identify and shortlist suitable EOR providers to ensure legal compliance when hiring across different geographies

Kitopi is a world’s leading managed cloud kitchen platform, and region’s news Unicorn startup. I was hired to lead the People function for Kitopi’s biggest market- UAE with over 1, 600 employees divided between the corporate office and 22 business units located across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In October 2021 I have been promoted to the role of Director- People Operations focusing on HR operations across all the markets (KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and Poland). Both roles require operational and strategic experience as well as ability to remain agile in order to succeed in rapidly changing environment of an Organisation at the phase of hyper growth.

Responsibilities:
•My reporting lines as People BP were to the Country Manager as well as Director of People Operations, then in my latter role to the Chief People Officer
•Build strong relationships with the leadership team across organisation, acting as an advisor on best practice for all People related matters
•Work as a part of matrix team supporting complex projects such as acquisitions of various brands by Kitopi, ensuring seamless integration of new employees into the Organisation
•Support development and implementation of various global People initiatives (performance appraisals, engagement surveys)
•Lead implementation of the biometrics and HRIS systems

Compliance:
•Revised Government relation processes and timelines to reduce the cost, and achieve full compliance with the UAE Labour Law
•Partnered up with an external visa outsourcing agency to allow uninterrupted on boarding of new employees according to business needs
•Revised employment contracts to protect best interests of the organisation and save cost
•Implemented policies Handbook for the Operations
Ensured compliance with the policies and local legislation particularly in the area of misconduct and disciplinary issues
•Built strong and transparent relationship between People, GRO and Finance team to support effective financial planning

Employee experience:
•Renegotiated corporate medical insurance enhancing benefits while saving 20% of the cost
•Improved employee experience by re designing recruitment practices
•Implemented induction for Operations team as we all as on boarding SOPs
•Created progression and growth opportunities for the People team
•Supported implementation of retention strategies such as review of the pay scales for Operations team
Drove the initiative to increase diversity of the workforce and create equal growth opportunities across the markets

Talent Acquisition and Management:
•Worked closely with Finance and Operations teams to support workforce planing
•Supported local market by organising multiple bulk hiring initiates such as Open Days and referral programs
•Planned and executed oversea recruitment drive for all the markets

Founded in 2013 HWH Investments is a home grown Group with a growing portfolio of concepts addressing the gap in the market for F&B offerings in transient locations (Tranzeet Dxb, Treehouse Juicery, The Roost, S34, Flour&Stone, Fix, Nutella Dxb, Grabb It), as well as Ghost Kitchen concepts (The Roost, Treehouse Juicery, Sawa), and E- commerce (H Market). I have joined HWH when the Group counted 100 employees spread across 2 Outlets, 1 Central Kitchen and the Head Office. Responsibilities:
•Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with senior leadership team advising them on all people related matters
•Supported strategic objectives and needs of the Organisation by building high performance work culture
•Organised the structure of the HR department to provide best HR practice and support operations of the Corporate Office as well as Central Kitchen and 9 Outlets
•Developed and implemented standardised policies and procedures across the Group, ensuring legal compliance with the UAE Labour Law
•Created FOH Manual and Policy Handbook for the Group
•Introduced a HRMS system and liaised with the IT team to ensure it's implementation and effective use across the Group Talent Acquisition and Management:
•Ensured pre-opening budget was met by timely managing recruitment and on-boarding process for each project
•Managed internal and external recruitment process and relations with external Recruiters
•From A to Z managed oversea recruitment project for new outlets
•Implemented and oversaw performance appraisal system and progression planning across for the Operations and Head Office team to drive high performance
•Successfully supported promotion from within for majority of roles Compensation and Benefits
•Evaluated current job roles, implemented Grading system
•Designed compensation and benefits packages and bonus scheme linked to the Grading system and performance appraisals
•Implemented merit increase based on compa ratio and performance ratings
•Negotiated and implemented Medical Insurance for the Group Learning and Development:
•Internally recruited a dedicated team of trainers in charge of delivering of the training programmes
•Following assessment of training needs, designed and implemented training programmes for Operations and Corporate team
•Developed and implemented effective induction program Employee Relations and Employee Engagement
•Managed employee relations and addressed internal conflicts and grievances
•Provided guidance and assistance to Management team on any people related matters
•Conducted disciplinary investigations, ensuring disciplinary issues are dealt with in line with the UAE Labour Law
•Nurtured a positive working environment by implementing various Employee Engagement initiatives including team buildings and recognition programmes

I was one of the first employees of the Head Office, head hunted for the position of Group HR Manager when the Group counted just under 200 employees.

My immediate priority was to set up and establish the HR department, and provide unified service to the 4 Night Clubs and 1 Restaurant belonging to the Sunset Group at the time.