welcome to 3XO

Optimal Organisational Outcomes

Optimal

Organisational

Outcomes

who we are

3XO {Optimal Organisational Outcomes} is an advisory firm dedicated to supporting boards and their executive teams to design and deliver their people strategies.

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Independent advice from a small and specialist team, drawing on a deep network of associated professionals
Combined corporate and consulting HR leadership experience
Our starting point is understanding your plans, objectives and context
We maximise leverage of your existing teams and talent, augmenting only where needed using our network of associates
Our implementation support can include acting as Integrators, bringing together your in-house and external teams
We help you achieve outcomes built to last

what we do

We support boards and their executive teams to design and deliver their people strategies.

We support boards and their executive teams to design and deliver their people strategies. There is a gap in the professional services market. Organisations can easily buy high quality advice to develop their strategies, but it is more difficult to get experienced, practical support to execute those strategies. This is particularly true of HR and people strategies. That task of designing and implementing falls to one or a combination of:

Existing senior executives, who may be busy, possibly conflicted and often insufficiently expert in the areas that need to be configured.

The strategic advisors, who have supported the development or produced the strategies, who may not have personnel with the necessary expertise and experience required and whose rates may not be competitive.

Executives and advisors hired to deliver the strategies, but whose identification and onboarding may mean that they do not arrive on site soon enough and, in the case of executives, may be engaged as permanent employees for what is, in reality, a fixed duration activity.

3XO

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

3XO is different. We:

Start from the assumption that your existing teams should, wherever possible, be used in delivery of your plans, We will support you in assessing this and augmenting your teams only when necessary. This approach is cost effective and leads to outcomes built to last, whilst enabling rapid progress towards the agreed objectives.
Augment your teams with talented and experienced professionals who are matched to your challenges and have a track record for delivery.
Can support you as Integrators, constructively assimilating the work of your own teams with that of other external resources.
Use our experience as both consultants and corporate HR leaders to quickly identify practical and sustainable solutions to suit your context.

how we do it

Our approach is structured to support you where you need it most. Whilst no two projects are the same, they typically include some or all of the following phases.

1. Understanding & scoping

We start from your strategic intent, your context, purpose and objectives. Typically two of our advisors would spend time with you to understand this in detail. This would inform the scope of proposed activity to bridge the gap between your current state and the outcome you wish to achieve.

2. Analysis & diagnosis

Based on your strategy and proposed scope of work we will develop a data collection and stakeholder interview schedule to inform the diagnosis. We will share our analytical insights and observations with you before moving into the design stage.

3. Design

We approach the design phase by co-creating principles which then guide the high level and detailed design. There is rarely one uniquely right design for people strategies so we will discuss design options with you.

4. Implementation planning & support

Our deep practical experience underpins our approach to implementation. Our approach is to provide specific guidance on what’s needed, how to transition and embed in your organisation. We can work with your teams to implement and where appropriate augment your teams with experienced associates. Where other external resources are used we can support as integrators to ensure a smooth transition.

5. Effectiveness assessment

As a follow up to the completion of implementation, or selected as a stand-alone quality assurance step, an effectiveness assessment is an ideal opportunity to take stock and review the project outcome against the target objectives. This step reinforces our commitment to sustainable change.

Use cases

We match your context with our professional expertise and experience. We specialise in supporting clients in specific situations, including:

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Private Equity including IPO preparation
Business transformation
Implementation of new ways of working
M&A or divestiture
Subsidiaries and divisions of global organisations

We would be delighted to speak to you about your plans and context. If this would be useful, please contact us.

Operating model & restructuring

– Alignment of operating model with strategy
– Organisation structure and shape
– Capability mapping and workforce profile

Leadership assessment & development

– Senior executive: selection, appointment, transition, coaching, development & termination
– Team effectiveness review and development
– Board build and support

Culture & change management

– Culture assessment & development
– Future of work assessment
– Hybrid working
– Change management support
– Communications support

HR strategy & transformation

– HR operating model
– HR team effectiveness review
– HR policies & processes
– EDI strategy & operations
– Technology strategy

Reward & performance management

– Executive remuneration policy
– Incentive design
– Salary structure & capability based pay
– Performance coaching, assessment, team based pay & organisation scorecards
– Incorporating environmental, social and governance targets

3XO

Our Team

Partner and Chair

RUPERT MCNEIL

BIO

Rupert is Chair of Optimal Organisational Outcomes LLP (3XO LLP). He was previously the UK’s Government Chief People Officer (2016 to 2022), and prior to that Group HR Director of Lloyds Banking Group and held senior HR roles at Aviva and Barclays. Starting his career at the CBI in 1989, he joined Arthur Andersen in 1995, becoming a Partner in 2001 and joining Deloitte as a Partner in 2002. He is Chair of the People Committee of the Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South and a member of the Chartered Management Institute’s Board of Companions. He is a Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), and is a Fellow of CIMA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

PARTNER

JULIE ELDER

BIO

Julie has extensive experience within ER, Reward, Policy and Performance. She has held Reward leadership roles within financial services, working in UK banking and international business areas at Barclays and, prior to that, the London Stock Exchange.

As a Partner at 3XO, Julie has supported clients from a wide variety of sectors as they develop and implement initiatives, including in the areas of reward, HR team transformation, performance management and policy.

PARTNER

Mike Aldred

BIO

Principal

Tom Gosling

BIO

Tom has 20+ years of experience as a board adviser. He was a senior Partner at PwC where he established and led the firm’s executive pay practice, advising multinational companies on corporate governance and executive pay. Tom is an Executive Fellow in the Department of Finance at London Business School, an Executive Fellow of the European Corporate Governance Institute, and a member of the Advisory Panel and the Stakeholder Insights Group at the Financial Reporting Council. In these roles he contributes to the evidence-based practice of responsible business by connecting academic research, public policy, and corporate action.

Tom has a PhD in mathematics, is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, and is a Meyler Campbell Mastered Graduate.

Tom's advisory focus with 3XO is ESG, executive remuneration and corporate governance.

Principal

Sally Moore

BIO

Sally has 15+ years’ experience as a Group Reward Director and executive remuneration consultant. As Diageo’s Performance and Reward Director, with responsibility for all aspects of global remuneration strategy, policy, design and governance, she worked closely with the Remuneration Committee. Her subsequent experience includes covering the Group Reward role at Compass and providing advice and support on executive reward to the Remuneration Committees of Man Group plc and TPICAP plc, including leading on several shareholder consultation exercises. She has also provided mentoring and coaching support to other reward directors and is chair of The Remuneration Group (TRG), the network group of FTSE100 reward directors.

PRINCIPAL

STEPHEN FORBES

BIO

Stephen has nearly 25 years of professional experience across consulting and in-house reward roles, with a focus in the banking industry. He is an experienced Group Reward Director, having led the global function at Credit Suisse before the UBS acquisition. He also held senior reward leadership roles at Barclays and Nomura.

He has particular expertise in risk and conduct in remuneration, regulatory and governance, executive compensation and fair pay. He has an MA in Law and Medical Sciences.

Associate

Cathy Macpherson

BIO

Cathy has 16 years HR and reward experience in financial and professional services, with particular focus on the design and implementation of pay and grading systems, job evaluation, salary reviews and bonus and incentive schemes; graduate reward; and senior executive compensation.

Most recently, at PwC, Cathy was a Data Insights Lead, and was responsible for developing and operating improved HR reporting, bringing greater clarity, efficiency and understanding to support talent, performance and reward management within the business.

Associate

Katia Morris

BIO

With 18+ years of high-value experience in HR Advisory and Reward in the UK and North America, Katia has significant financial and professional services experience.

After working as a consultant with Deloitte and Touche, Katia moved to financial services where her experience included Investment Banking, Retail Banking, Private Equity and Payments. Her expertise includes executive pay including senior pay packages and buy-outs, compensation structures advisory, complex compensation process design, compensation operations, and union negotiation.

Katia’s work for 3XO includes supporting financial services and professional services organisations as well as small, medium sized and fast-growing businesses in all sectors.

PRINCIPAL

JEREMY HILL

BIO

Jeremy has over 35 years’ consulting and client experience in multinational employee benefits, risk financing, governance, health, wellbeing and employee experience.

Most recently, as global Head of Pension and Benefits and then Head of Wellbeing at Standard Chartered Bank, Jeremy was responsible for the development and delivery of the Bank’s benefits and wellbeing for some 85,000 colleagues across 59 markets. Prior to that he worked for Willis Towers Watson and other large benefit consulting firms, advising across a wide range of multinational client industries and sizes. He is a qualified actuary.

Outside work, he pursues a number of interests with his family, including singing and dancing.

Principal

Chris Mendes

BIO

Chris has extensive experience across Retail Banking / Financial Services focusing on strategic transformation, cost leadership and workforce optimisation.

This includes leading on people efficiency and effectiveness across c. 70k employees at Lloyds Banking Group, redesigning the approach to Strategic Workforce Planning through a data led approach and leading on people data to drive organisational insight and action.

Outside of work, Chris is married with a young family and enjoys travel, the theatre and technology in all its forms.

Principal

JEAN-PIERRE NOËL

BIO

Jean-Pierre has 15 years of board-level experience as the Group Reward Director inside three FTSE-50 multinationals: Reckitt, IHG and Compass Group. His expertise is in executive remuneration, strategic reward practices, performance management and business coaching. He has a particular interest in helping NEDs and Group HRDs build their capabilities in executive remuneration through coaching, mentoring, and training, and has conducted various high-profile and influential research studies on executive pay, ESG and reward beyond the boardroom, and ‘just transition’ on behalf of PwC and the Purposeful Company.

Jean-Pierre has been an MBA tutor at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford since 2016, and a skills-based volunteer with Pilotlight since 2013 providing support to various UK charities. He is a Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), and a Meyler Campbell Mastered Graduate.

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Achla Tanna

BIO

Achla has over 20 years of experience in managing all aspects of compensation and benefits both in the UK and across Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America; she also has experience of the Asian markets having lived and worked in Singapore for several years. Achla’s areas of expertise include job architecture, incentive plan design, global mobility, executive compensation design and employee communication. Sector experience includes Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Media, Professional Services and Not for Profit.

Contact Us

Join 3XO Network

welcome to 3XO

Optimal

Organisational

Outcomes

who we are

what we do

We support boards and their executive teams to design and deliver their people strategies.

3XO

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

how we do it

Our approach is structured to support you where you need it most. Whilst no two projects are the same, they typically include some or all of the following phases.

1. Understanding & scoping

2. Analysis & diagnosis

3. Design

4. Implementation planning & support

5. Effectiveness assessment

Use cases

Operating model & restructuring

Leadership assessment & development

Culture & change management

HR strategy & transformation

Reward & performance management

Building HR capability to deliver integration outcomes

Supporting a time-sensitive senior executive exit

Incentive design and implementation

Configuring the executive team to deliver a new strategy

3XO

Our Team

Partner and Chair

RUPERT MCNEIL

PARTNER

JULIE ELDER

PARTNER

Mike Aldred

Principal

Tom Gosling

Principal

Sally Moore

PRINCIPAL

STEPHEN FORBES

Associate

Cathy Macpherson

Associate

Katia Morris

PRINCIPAL

JEREMY HILL

Principal

Chris Mendes

Principal

JEAN-PIERRE NOËL

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Achla Tanna

Contact Us