Message from the President

It has been an honour and a pleasure for me to start, as of October 1^st, serving as EAPM President, representing 31 European Association Members and an important share of all HR managers and professionals working in our Continent.

We are living in very tough times in most of our countries, facing, probably, the most serious crisis in the last 60 years. This situation is affecting all working people, without any difference. The idea we used to have about a job as a stable relationship with a company is, in many cases, over.

This means that, more and more, employability and long life learning are becoming a major concern both for companies and individuals: they have to survive in a continuously changing world.

In this scenario we, HR professionals, are on the front line: any challenge that companies and people have to face sees us as leading actors of change.

This is what our CEO’s and, I dare to say, also employees want from us: to give a valuable contribution to adapt corporate culture, strategy, structure and people behaviour to the present tough times.

It is up to us, HR professionals and managers, to respond to these challenges: probably, we have also to change most of our traditional ideas and convictions about our job, getting out from our corner and going closer to companies’ business strategy.

It will be the role of EAPM to support our National Associations and their members in the upgrading of HR profession throughout Europe: to reach this goal, during the previous Presidency we have prepared a strategy plan with clear programs, actions and timing. This plan has been approved by our General Assembly in September 2011 in Istanbul and it will be the duty of this Presidency to implement it in the next two years.

For the implementation of the plan, we will try to cooperate also with European Union Commission, other Associations, Universities and International Consultancies.

I take the commitment, together with the Vice President Soili Johansson and all the members of our Executive Committee, to do all my best to deliver a real added value to our National Associations and their members.

Filippo Abramo

How European smaller businesses prepare for future success

EAPM-CAPITALENT pilot collaboration and report on talent management in smaller businesses
17 October 2011.

Message from the Vice-President

A warm greeting to all EAPM members,

It is with great enthusiasm I start my vice presidency of the EAPM. But first of all, a big “thank you” for your support both in the election and hopefully also during the coming 2 years!

Our president, Filippo Abramo, has already expressed the broad lines of the EAPM in his opening speech and Pieter Haen, the past president, is now active globally. Max Becker makes sure our finances are in order and the Delegates assembly takes the big decisions. So how could I add value to this team and the EAPM?

First of all, those of you who know me already also know that I have my background in finance and marketing. The marketing side of me is always asking: what is it that your customers (in our case the associations and their members) need and are ready to pay and/or work for? And the finance side of me asks, how can we make this happen, where do we find the resources and how to prioritize? Last but not least the HR blood in my veins wonder how do we make sure the great talent, motivation, innovation and energy we have in our people and organizations all around Europe, is getting the support, leadership and opportunity to give their best?

A lot of questions, and that is actually the way I would like to contribute to the EAPM during the first six months of my vice presidency. To learn about all member organizations and the member HR professionals of the national organizations: who you are, what are your biggest challenges? What are your visions and aspirations and how the EAPM could be of help. But also, what would you be ready to give yourself.

Most of us have several multicultural challenges in our jobs: having multicultural staff, a head office in another country, possibly a merger with another European company; expatriates and / or customers in several countries, you name it. All of these require knowledge and skills which can only be obtained "hands-on, learning from each other, networking and interacting, not just by theory or reading books. Some of you might also wish to enter this exciting world in the future. By following the EAPM you could gain a more realistic picture of European cooperation and HR.

As it is impossible to discuss with all of you individually, please spend some time to think about how the EAPM could benefit YOU and your organization/company and discuss it with your own peers and within your national organization. Through the national organizations, we within EAPM strive to enhance the things that are important to the HR professional community all over Europe. To be able to do that, we need your help: knowledge, ideas and input. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation!

WISHING YOU ALL VERY GOOD HUMAN RELATIONS – ALL OVER EUROPE !

Soili Johansson