Arlene Griffiths - UK Country Manager
On graduating with a degree in Chemistry from Bradford
University, she started her professional working life in 1981 as a
Marketing Graduate Trainee with Glaxo Holding. Here she worked on a
number of brand leaders and was part of the Zantac launch team,
which set new marketing standards in its field.
From there Arlene moved onto Boeringer Ingelhielm Pharmaceutical
where she set up an Over the Counter (OTC) medicine. Initially
starting as a Product Manager she was quickly promoted to Group
Product Manager and moved into a more international role working on
new product development where she worked closely with their Glenic
centre. In 1984 she then joined Napp Consumer Division as Sales and
Marketing Manager where she took responsibility for re-defining
their strategic direction. This resulted in reversing their
unprofitable position. It was in this post that Arlene developed a
reputation for turning around businesses and therefore became
interested in organisational culture and how this impacts on
performance, an interest she pursued in 1994 with Mercuri Urval
undertaking headhunting, recruitment, training and managing team
dynamics resulting from company mergers using psychometric
techniques. Her client work included companies such as: EuroTunnel
start up, London Dockland Railway, APV Engineering and Glaxo
Welcome merger.
Arlene then took a year sabbatical to study for her MBA when she
specialised in Management in Developing Countries and Change
Management and gained a distinction. On completing this she entered
the sports sector and was appointed Sales and Marketing Director
for Medisport International. Here Arlene saw firsthand the impact
that sport can have internationally and in bridging cultures. After
a spell in consultancy Arlene decided to develop her global
interest and joined Cardiff University in 2002 to head their
International Office. She was then headhunted and joined the
British Council in 2006 as Director, Education UK Partnership,
during which time the Partnership team enjoyed its highest level of
membership and delivered the highest level of customer service.
Even during her time in education roles, Arlene has maintained her
interest in business. This has included holding Non-Executive Board
positions such as that for Milford Haven Dock Company. In October
2010 Arlene joined IDP Education to set up a UK operation where she
is now Country Manager.