Director of Corporate Services - Karen Watkins
Karen Watkins joined the Constabulary in
1986 at a time of intense civilianisation as the force Research
Officer replacing a police Superintendent. The job has grown over
the years and Karen was promoted to head of department
and then to director in 2004. This role involves managing the
corporate communications, planning and performance and business
improvement functions and offering the Constabulary and authority
advice and support on governance and the good practice based
on many years of being involved in research and evaluation of
new ways of working.
Karen went to Liverpool University to do degree in Mathematics
and Geography and followed that with an MSc in Tourism in Glasgow.
Karen then spent 2 years working on a research project at what was
Manchester Polytechnic followed by 2 years as a statistician for a
private frozen food company.
Director of Information Management - Neil Brown
Neil Brown
joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1997 as an IT project leader and
has fulfilled a number of roles within both IT and business
development since. In 2001 he became Head of the Information
Management Department and in 2007 he became Director of Business
Change and IT. In 2010 he was appointed to the role of Director of
Information. He is currently responsible for the strategic
direction of both IT and Information Management with a prime focus
on overseeing and improving the way the Constabulary collects,
stores, utilises and manages the various sources of information
that are the life-blood of effective policing.
Neil is a chartered engineer and chartered IT professional with
over 35 years experience. Prior to joining the Constabulary, he
worked for Shell International in various IT-related support and
development roles.
He has a PhD in applied IT, as well as an MSc, which he achieved
at Manchester University. Neil is married with two children. In his
spare time he enjoys competitive sailing and home improvements.
Director of Human Resources - Sharon Willis
Sharon Willis joined Cheshire Constabulary in March 2011 as HR
Director. She has over 20 years experience of HR and Change
Management in a range of sectors (predominantly private sector
organisations).
With a Business Studies degree, MBA, MCIPD and a post graduate
qualification in Performance Coaching, Sharon started her career in
HR at Massey Ferguson Tractors in Coventry and has worked for a
number of blue chip organisations including British Gas plc, United
Utilities plc, Tarmac and Co-operative Financial Services. For the
three years prior to joining Cheshire, she was a freelance
consultant and coach.
Sharon has significant experience of employee relations,
organisation design, change management, delivery of shared service
models, TUPE and business mergers & acquisitions.
She is passionate about people engagement and getting the best
out of our people in the workplace. Her key focus for 2011/12 will
be to shape the people agenda to support policing objectives and
lead the HR function through significant changes to the operating
model and measures of service.
Sharon lives in Stoke-on-Trent with her husband, Ian, and is a
keen middle/long-distance runner.
Director of Finance - Richard Muirhead