Page 14 - Focus - Spring 2022

HR Update

Yvonne Mallon We’re pleased to welcome Yvonne Mallon as
our new Interim Head of HR.
Head of HR

Tell us a bit Why did you join Kane?
about yourself?
I joined Kane because I was interested
I am the youngest of in the opportunity that it presents and
9 children and was thought I could make a contribution. Kane
born and reared in a is a very solid and successful business that is
little townland called ambitious and in growth mode. The owners
Cargin in Co Antrim. are committed to their business and more
I lived in Belfast when importantly they are committed to the
I was at Uni and then people in the business, and they recognise
moved around a bit for work and have that Kane’s success will be achieved through
lived in Dublin, Portstewart and for the its people. My role is to build on the good
last 11 years Newcastle which I love. work already started and help develop,
implement and support our People Plan, to
Why HR? develop the HR Team and support Managers
and employees in any way I can.
Like a lot of things in life it just sort
of happened that I ended up in
HR but having a genuine interest in So, how has it been so far?
people and a sense of fairness were So far very good! I am genuinely impressed
underlying drivers for sure. I have been by the people in our business and the drive,
very lucky to have worked with lots commitment and innovation that is very
of great people and in lots of great evident to me each day I am here. AND
businesses and people never fail to I can safely say that I have never seen so
surprise both in positive and not so many fab employee treats in any company
positive ways! I have been in so far, very generous,
I have been working in HR for over 30 thoughtful, and very welcome!!
years which is a number that blows
my mind and have mainly worked
in large manufacturing companies. I Tell us a fun fact about yourself
have worked hard over those years Randomly on a weekend in Amsterdam
- sometimes too hard and decided along with six friends, many moons ago, we
around six years ago to change pace bumped into Quentin Tarantino two nights
a bit and I moved to doing part-time in a row, and no this is not a fairy story, and
interim contracts and now work 3 I wasn’t hallucinating! Quentin, as we now
days per week. Essentially, I work in call him, was all chat the first night and
companies in whatever capacity is gave each of us his autograph and the next
needed. night he blanked us, hey ho!

14 KANE FOCUS