John Brady to retire; Claire Rolstone to be Acting Director

The University’s Human Resources Director John Brady is retiring at the end of this month, and Claire Rolstone has been appointed the Acting Director.

Claire is currently Assistant Director (Advisory Services) and will take up her new role on 1 April 2022.

She will lead HR until September 2023, when a permanent appointment to the role is expected to be made.

As Acting Director, Claire will be part of the University’s Leadership Group – which includes Heads of Schools and Functions, Teaching & Learning and Research Deans and others reporting directly to a University Executive Board member.

University career

John Brady joined the University of Reading in October 1999 as the Director of Personnel, having held senior HR roles at the Universities of Hertfordshire and Edinburgh. In the two decades since, he has led the team through a number of changes to create its current structure – providing advice and guidance to the leadership team and effective professional and operational support to the managers and colleagues.

Claire Rolstone joined the University in January 2009 as HR Partner, following a career in the private sector. She took up her current role of Assistant Director in 2016.

Announcing her appointment, University Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer Richard Messer said, “Claire has a good understanding of what our University needs from its Human Resources function, and how these could best contribute to our overall strategy. Her close involvement with some of our major people-related projects also gives her a good understanding of the way in which the University is changing and how HR can help with that change.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank John Brady for his tremendous service to the University. He has been a trusted advisor to many colleagues in the University and has led or advocated many of the initiatives that define the employee experience at our institution. John has combined a ready wit with deep caring for people. He will be sorely missed by us, but we wish him the very best for the future.”

John Brady said, “It has been an honour and a pleasure, professionally and personally, to have been a part of the University community for so many years. Although I have much to look forward to, I will miss it and particularly all the great colleagues I’ve had the good fortune to work with. I wish all of you the very best for the future.”

Claire Rolstone said, ‘I am pleased to be taking on the role to lead the HR Function at the University.  Over the past few years, we have developed our services to offer the best support to colleagues across Schools and Functions.  I hope to drive further opportunities to develop a workplace that allows our people to achieve and deliver their best.

HR is one of the major professional services function at our University, providing a comprehensive range of people-related services. The HR Director leads a 70-member team comprising the following services:

• Professional & Advisory – provides advice and guidance to managers and staff on recruitment, performance management, dispute resolution, change management and all relevant people-related issues.
• People Development – supports staff learning and development activity (excluding teaching and learning development), leadership and management, apprenticeships, rewards and benefits, equality and diversity and includes the HR Systems team.
• Operations and Resourcing – delivers effective transactional services across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment services, right to work checks, visa applications, contract generation and amendments, and the delivery of monthly and ad hoc payrolls.
• Pensions – provides administrative and advisory services for the University’s three pension schemes (the USS, UREPF and URPS), and supports the Trustee Boards for the UREPF and URPS.
• Occupational Health – health professionals providing the University and its staff with advice and guidance to ensure a safe and healthy working life.
• Campus Jobs – an in-house service facilitating part-time and temporary work opportunities on campus, primarily aimed at students.

As Acting Director, Claire will support the delivery of the University’s strategic ambitions through the recruitment, development and nurturing of its people.