Claire Townshend
Chief Human Resources Officer
London
Claire Townshend has more than 20 years' experience in the design and delivery of high-value HR functions for leading professional services firms.
She specialises in change and transformation, particularly in globalising HR functions, restructuring and organisational design including nearshoring, outsourcing, centralising and driving automation. She has significant experience in systems implementation, reward, employee relations and the wider suite of HR functions.
Experience and recent work
In addition to her time at Walkers, Claire has worked with Ashurst, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and KPMG across the UK, South Africa and The Netherlands. Most recently, she was Head of HR (EMEA & US) and Global Head, HR Operations for Ashurst LLP.
Qualifications
Education:
- BA (Social Science) from University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa
- Advanced Diploma in Labour Law, University of Johannesburg (Previously Rand Afrikaans University), South Africa
- Graduate Diploma, Personnel Management, Thames Valley University, UK
Claire is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, where she has been a member since 1997.
Team Members
Other team members with related expertise
Neil Sherlock
Chief Financial Officer
Cayman Islands
Angela Robertson
General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer
London
Heather Vadgama
Chief Marketing Officer
London
