Environmental services are dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of your premises' water, land, and air, ensuring their essential functions. Human Resources (HR) is crucial in collaborating with executive leaders to effectively implement and cultivate a culture that fosters sustainability and aligns with the company mission. Rentokil Initial delivers services aimed at safeguarding individuals and improving their well-being. As one of the largest global business service providers, Rentokil is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and operates in 60 countries. With a history that extends over a century, the company persistently enhances its operational efficiency, safety measures, capabilities, customer service, and innovative practices. Nobina Banerjee, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Rentokil PCI, has been collaborating with the organization, offering guidance, and ensuring necessary actions are taken in response to various situations. During a close interview with us, Nobina provided insights into the internal workings of the organization, recent industry developments, and other pertinent information.

Guide us through your educational history. What prompted your entry into the Human Resources field?

I was fortunate to receive my education in Pune, also known as “Oxford of East” for a large number of quality education institutes. My school and college education provided exposure to a diverse global environment, shaping my broad perspective on work and life. Realizing my passion for working with people, I pursued dual specializations in finance and HR during my MBA. The most transformative phase of my educational journey occurred during my PhD, undertaken while working in the media sector from 2012 to 2016. This five-year endeavour focused on leadership, exploring how business leaders sustain passion and motivation. Conducting interviews with CXOs and CEOs across industries enriched my understanding of leadership dynamics, industry perspectives, and team alignment. The PhD experience significantly influenced my approach to various industries, age brackets, and leadership challenges, contributing to my ability to discern deeper meanings in interpersonal interactions. Overall, this journey has been both lengthy and rewarding, emphasizing the importance of seeing beyond surface-level interactions.

Share your acquired areas of expertise as an HR leader over the years.

As an HR leader, I've learned and implemented two key principles over the years. Firstly, effective communication is paramount. The ability to articulate ideas with clarity is crucial for culture building and change management. A successful outcome relies on conveying messages with precision, ensuring they are perceived as intended. Secondly, decision-making is a critical skill. Timely and decisive choices, made with courage and clarity, are essential for organizational effectiveness. Nondecisiveness can negatively impact team dynamics and organizational culture, especially during change management and transformational journeys.

Give us an overview of Rentokil PCI and outline the responsibilities you handle as the company's CHRO.

Rentokil PCI specializes in pest control and hygiene services, arising from a joint venture between Rentokil Initial and Pest Control of India in 2017-2018. With Pest Control of India's long presence, this partnership has elevated us to a prominent position in pest control globally, emphasizing environmentally conscious practices. Our commitment to safety is non-negotiable, evident in stringent standards for equipment and chemicals. As the CHRO, I oversee nearly 7000 employees, championing organizational change through employee engagement, and managing mergers, acquisitions, and other transformations. My responsibilities include strategic workforce planning, aligning India as a leader in the Asia Pacific and global Rentokil Initial group. My focus lies in ensuring smooth operations, performance enhancement, and proactively addressing challenges while maximizing opportunities through innovative talent approaches.

As an HR leader, what do you consider to be some of the most pressing challenges, and how do you navigate and address these obstacles in your role?

The HR function must have a very robust understanding of the business operations, its challenges and the direction the management would like to drive its vision. One of the key challenges that I faced and overcame was to change the perception of HR from being an implementation function to transforming HR to being a Strategic Business Partner. This was achieved by aligning the vision, mission and values of the organisation by ensuring that a fine balance is maintained between business decisions being taken with the people aspect in mind. Collaboration at every level and among functions helped in navigating any hurdles that came across the way. I learnt that to have a voice at the table you need to put your voice at the table. Effective use of data analytics in making decisions helped position my opinion and decision with rationale and logic.

How do you anticipate the Indian HR landscape changing in 2024, and which industry trends are expected to have the most significant impact?

I believe that the future of the HR landscape hinges on being data-driven, particularly in utilizing data analytics for informed decision-making. It's essential to integrate people analytics into workforce planning and talent management. While emphasizing the importance of data, I want to highlight that decisions should be a balance between data, experience, and established practices. Additionally, the emergence of "green HR" practices, incorporating sustainable approaches, is crucial for social responsibility and inclusive workspaces. Post-COVID, there's a heightened focus on employee experience, prompting rapid adaptation to the latest HR technologies for streamlined processes, automated transactions, and strategic HR implementation. This includes leveraging AI-driven tools for recruitment analytics, employee engagement, and tailoring benefits and recognition programs to enhance overall engagement and data management. These trends, I believe, will shape the HR landscape significantly in 2024.

Nobina Banerjee,CHRO, Rentokil PCI

Nobina Banerjee is a dynamic and creative HR professional boasting 17 years of experience and proficiency in steering global people strategies, policies, and initiatives in leadership, talent management, and organizational change. She excels in collaborating with business entities to ensure effective HR delivery and operations across multiple global units.