A former Disney manager is set to bring a sprinkling of fairy dust to a Sipps firm.

Penny Garnett, who used to be HR director at Walt Disney Company, working on the retail network across the UK, France, Italy and Spain, has been appointed by James Hay Partnership. She takes the same title.

Ms Garnett explained that there were significant challenges that she encountered in her time at Disney which have helped develop her professional skills – including dealing with trade unions.

She said: “The Disney Stores in Europe had been up for sale for a couple of years and had suffered the effects of lack of investment. Morale was low and staff attrition matched it.

“When the decision came to retain the stores, my main objective was to form the new Board, ensure that all the staff were focused, and incentivised, to challenging profitability targets whilst divesting underperforming stores across the patch.

“I have worked with trade unions many times during my professional career and consider the most acute challenge is trying to agree change in France when there is a need to downsize. One part of my magic kingdom was the distribution centre in Magna Park and this is where I kept the pixie dust.

“I now wish I had access to it as I have come across a few people and projects since my Disney days that could have done with a liberal sprinkling of it!”

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Ms Garnett is familiar with working in financial services, having previously had roles at Aon, American Express and Morgan Stanley.

She set out three key priorities in her new role at James Hay:

• To build capability and in particular further strengthen the IT and change management teams.

• To modernise HR systems and processes as part of the new digital paperless era

• To support the change agenda and ensure the people workstreams are executed on time and in budget

Asked what attracted her to James Hay, she said: “I heard very good things right from the start and it appeared an ideal time to join James Hay. I have a background in modernising HR as a function and supporting large scale change so there was a clear skills match.

“With all of the recent changes to the retirement market it’s a great time to join a thriving platform with such an impressive Sipp pedigree.

“After working for the BBC and other megalith companies James Hay is small and agile enough for me to make an impact quickly yet large enough for there to be a need of a first class HR agenda.”

Ms Garnett identified three key points in her career to date.

She said: “I have learned that uncertainty is more harmful to an individual than delivering bad news in a professional way. If you have a career spanning thirty years or more there are always going to be times when you are not as good as usual - when dealing with issues I urge managers to take a long term view rather than go for a knee jerk reaction as it can be more cost effective to improve a person than replace them.

“I recognise it is easier for some to keep quiet when showing some moral courage and that it can lead to a better outcome. I try to be a role model for this.”