Samsung Electronics UK's VP HR, Tess Smillie, says HR should be "in tandem with the CEO"

HR professionals must be an essential component of the business in order to succeed, according to Tess Smillie, Vice President HR, Samsung UK & Ireland. 

Speaking to HR Grapevine, Tess Smillie says: "You cannot do your job in HR unless you are a fundamental part of the fabric of the business. The result will be better decisions.” 

She believes that when this is the case "you know the projects you've got to focus on, where you have to drive change and how to drive that change. Furthermore, you are never going to then implement anything that jars with the organisation. 

"Some work tends to be seen as an ‘HR initiative’, versus having real impact, if it is not right for the business temperature at the time, and I think you only understand that by being a member of the leadership team, being that trusted advisor and just being incredibly close to the business."