Martin Atkinson

Martin Atkinson has been the Director of HR & Organisational Development at the University of Kent since April 2015. Prior to that, they were the HR Manager & Company Secretary at Aylesford Newsprint Limited from December 1993 to April 2015.

Atkinson began their career at Aylesford Newsprint Limited in December 1993, reporting directly to the Managing Director. Martin was responsible for the HR function and company secretary duties for a £150m turnover, 300 person manufacturing company on a 100 acre site following the sale of the company to a private equity investor. As a Board and Executive Committee member, this was both a strategic and operational role, leading a team of five providing HR, performance improvement, Learning & Development, Health & Safety and payroll services for a 365/24 business comprising manufacturing, engineering, logistics, commercial and professional staff.

Their responsibilities included Organisation Development including restructuring and performance improvement, Employee Relations in a unionised environment, Resourcing and Talent Management from shop floor to director level, Internal and External Communications, Remuneration and Benefits, including management and closure of £100m DB pension scheme, Safety, Risk Management and Occupational Health, and Management Systems: developing a team of internal auditors and maintaining accreditation to the 9001, 14001, 18001, FSC and IIP standards.

Martin Atkinson studied management science at the University of Warwick, earning a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

Martin Atkinson works with Georgina Randsleyde Moura - Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Strategy, Planning and Performance, Claire Peppiatt-Wildman - Director of Natural Sciences, and David Wilkinson - Director of Human & Social Sciences. Their manager is Karen Cox, Vice-Chancellor and President.