Case study

A leading UK bank

Strategic review and redesign of HR function in a tight timeframe

In 2003 one of the UK's largest banks launched a major transformation and brand relaunch. As part of this initiative, PA was asked to carry out a strategic review to transform HR from a 'policing' role into a key driver of organizational change. The review was to be completed within eight weeks and the resulting recommendations taken to the Board for approval and immediate implementation.

A joint client and PA team first established the 'as is' position, benchmarking the bank's human resources function internally and externally. Then the team redesigned the HR organization - a radical exercise involving the partnership and outsourcing arrangements, and the overhaul or removal of 30% of existing roles. Following rapid sign-off by the Board, implementation began straight away with the creation of new business-facing roles. The pace and success of this project significantly exceeded anything the bank had achieved before.