Penny de Valk

Penny became the Chief Executive of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) in October 2007.

For the previous three years she was Strategy Director at Ceridian UK, a US$1.5bn HR services organisation. Prior to that she ran several of Ceridian's HR businesses across Europe. 

Originally from New Zealand, Penny moved to the UK 13 years ago. Before this move she held the post of Chief Executive of the Institute of Management in Auckland for four years as well as two non-executive director positions with Top 50 listed companies after a career in services marketing.  

Penny is a recognised pioneer in the work/life balance debate and was instrumental in making Ceridian the first organisation in the UK to offer a fully integrated Employee Assistance Programme and work/life service.   

Her decision to join ILM was driven by a desire to work for an organisation that made a significant contribution to the quality of organisational life and organisational success. Having worked for 20 years helping organisations make the most of their people, Penny remains convinced that the quality of management and leadership is the most powerful catalyst to drive value in any organisation.