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Coca-Cola HBC SA was formed from the merger of two companies, forming the second largest Cola bottler in the world. 

With any company merger situation, a timely and effective fusion of good existing practices, with new clear and helpful processes and policies is a strong challenge.  When combining two companies with different cultures and operations in 26 countries, this becomes even more complicated and that is the place where Lesley started.

Lesley was initially asked to support the creation and implementation of an extensive set of Performance Management and Development instruments known as the PM&D Toolkit (Performance Management and Development) for HR professionals across the CCHBC territory of Central and Eastern Europe, Ireland and Nigeria.

This Toolkit would enable all CCHBC HR Professionals to carry out the human resources function using a consistent set of standards and practices and would ensure the highest levels of professionalism across the organisation.

In order to achieve this highly comprehensive set of materials, Lesley worked with a tool software supplier to align and adapt a standard questionnaire to fit the Coca Cola Hellenic core competencies.

There followed the development of an internet-based 360º development tool for the more than 300 senior managers across the territory.  This proved to be a very significant development opportunity to harmonise individual development requirements with core business needs, thereby moving the management population’s skills forward.

The resulting PM&D Toolkit comprised ‘How to’ guides, templates, course materials, facilitator notes and supporting background information, all linked to the core competencies, under the main headings of :-

• Individual development
• Performance management
• Talent development

It covered more than 18 HR subjects including objective setting, coaching, performance review, competencies and skills, how to run talent reviews etc., all aimed at increasing professionalism and meeting the exacting standards of the Coca Cola organisation.

By working with the Information Systems Function (IS) the Toolkit was launched and made accessible to both HR Professionals and Senior Managers across 26 countries within 3 months.

Lesley developed an information session for delivery in each country and project managed implementation across all countries and subsequently provided feedback coaching for a number of managers across the territory including Belarus, Bosnia and the UK.

The Results

As a result of these interventions the ‘PM&D’ Toolkit is now accepted as the primary reference source for Coca-Cola Hellenic HR Managers.

Further projects included:

• Facilitating the work of the corporate functions (IS, procurement, finance, external affairs, operations, HR) in developing functional technical competencies.  The results of assessment against these technical competencies were used to capture requirements for the development of both individual and team development plans.  She then worked with the functions to source, build and roll out the development plans.
• Designing and delivering in-house development programmes for a multi-national audience of HR and training professionals to build their professional capability.  Specific programmes included Train the Trainer and Managing the Training and Development Function.
• Facilitating the development of major sections of the ‘Excel’ Leadership Development programme design, to be delivered at IMD Business School in Lausanne, targeted at senior middle management as they accelerate their development towards more senior roles. 
  
  The programme was a combination of strategy and fast-track learning about the intricate operations of each function Coca-Cola Hellenic.  This project entailed working with IMD and the Corporate Functions to design and build dynamic training modules, building skills and knowledge of each of these functions.

Development through the company is based on functional competencies and the Excel programme continues to be the preferred development route for aspiring senior managers.