Helen Melling

Head of Talent Development, McLaren Automotive

Helen Melling started her career in HR with HSBC and while in the role of Head of HR for the UK marketing function, was selected to join a start-up joint venture between Merrill Lynch and HSBC.  Merrill Lynch HSBC was one of the first to market providing online banking and brokerage services to clients.  Helen joined as part of the initial team of 20 with the remit to support the growth of the company, to over 500 employees, within an aggressive timescale of a year, and joined permanently as Head of UK HR and Training, reporting to the UK MD.  This gave Helen and team the opportunity to develop business focused HR solutions from a blank sheet aligned with the global business strategy.

Having gained commercial exposure, Helen established Breeze HR as an independent HR management consultancy and built a mixed client base.  Helen was fortunate to work with some inspiring tech start-ups, established blue-chip companies and third sector organisations.  Clients included: Yoti Limited, Raleigh International, First Choice, Gamesys Limited and McLaren Applied and McLaren Automotive.

Helen joined luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive in May 2019 as Head of Talent Development.  Helen’s remit is to evolve the talent agenda, supporting and nurturing the career development of our existing employees and those starting out in their careers; identifying skills strengths and gaps and meeting development needs, leading on apprenticeship and early careers strategy and representing McLaren externally to shape and influence education and development of talent and skills within the automotive industry.