Gary Acheson

Gary Acheson, Assoc CIPD, has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning over 20 years. Gary has held various leadership roles, specializing in HR and Learning & Development. Starting in 2001, Gary began their career at The Dorchester as a Food and Beverage Trainee, and later advanced to the role of Food and Beverage Trainer. In 2005, they joined The Peninsula Hotels as a Front Office Agent and Trainer before moving on to MWB Business Exchange Plc in 2006. At MWB, Gary served as a Training and Development Manager, responsible for designing and delivering training initiatives and partnering with Sales and Operations Directors.

In 2011, Gary joined Rapport Guest Services as the Head of HR & Learning, where they played a crucial role in developing the brand, service, and client solutions. Gary also oversaw Learning & Development for over 800 employees across 45 corporate clients. After their tenure at Rapport, Gary joined The Argyll Club in 2019 as the Head of HR & Learning. In this role, they led the People strategy, focusing on HR strategy design, organizational development, and employee experience. Gary worked closely with the Executive Team to navigate brand change and business continuity planning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to their corporate roles, Gary has also worked as a freelance HR and Learning Consultant. During this time, they provided consultancy services to a London hotel, focusing on HR change alignment with ethical and environmental values. Gary also invested in personal and professional development, gaining expertise in various areas such as project management, coaching, diversity, and inclusion, among others.

Recently, Gary has taken on the role of Head of Learning and Development at Restaurant Associates UK, where they continue to drive learning and development initiatives. With a strong background in HR strategy, organizational development, and employee experience, Gary brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their current and future roles.

Gary Acheson, Assoc CIPD, completed their education in a variety of fields. Gary obtained a CIPD Level 7 HR Development qualification from Acacia Learning between 2016 and 2021. Prior to that, they attended the University of Galway from 1998 to 2002, where they earned a BComm degree with core electives in Human Resources. During the same period, they also acquired an International Diploma in Hotel Management from Shannon College of Hotel Management. In addition to their formal education, Gary has obtained various certifications, including becoming a Thomas International Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) Practitioner from Thomas International in 2023, and a Level 7 Diploma in Human Resources Development from CIPD in 2021. Gary also holds certifications in project management, agile coaching, virtual event management, time management, mental health first aid, and training practice and assessment.