HELENA COOKE RANDQUIST

Helena grew up in Stockholm and from an early age she has been a very active sports person. She competed in swimming until the age of 15 before she progressed to be a water polo player in the Swedish national team.

 

Her first work experience was within fast food whilst studying at six form / senior high. She grasped prioritisation and how to be organised as she had to manage her schoolwork, water polo and fitting in weekend work at McDonald’s.

 

Later during her University years she changed McDonald’s for a sales assistant role in the convenience retail sector for Statoil. (now Circle K). Whilst working there she approached the HR department at HQ and was given an opportunity to work with different HR projects that fitted in with her studies.

 

Thanks to a student exchange programme between the University of Stockholm and Rijksuniversiteteit Groningen in Holland she studied abroad whilst continuing playing water polo at a higher European level. 2002 Helena graduated from Stockholm University with a master’s in business administration and economics that focused on Management and Organisations. After that she moved to UK to continue playing water polo, but also to start her career.

 

Helena landed a HR Administration position and continued working with HR related issues at Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals, which via a couple of other commercial roles led to a post as HR Manager for Savers Health & Beauty Ltd, (part of A.S Watson). Here her main responsibilities was to guide line managers and employee with issues like; appraisals, recruitment, performance, disciplinary and managing implementation of new HR policies and procedures. She also coached and developed line managers to meet changing business needs.

 

In 2007 Helena was approached by Nigel Wright Recruitment in Newcastle upon Tyne and was hired for a new and interesting challenge in their new Nordics team. The transitioned her from a HR role to a recruitment consultant.  She began her new career within the international FMCG department where she was responsible for selling retained recruitment assignments and deliver projects throughout the Nordic market. Harry was part of the same team and this early collaboration later led to Helena and Harry joining up to develop this business. 

 

Since her arrival at Harry Barsk LTD Helena has successfully completed several sales, marketing, HR and Communications recruitment projects. She has gained extensive expertise about the various roles and the channels our clients operate in. Helena is very much liked by her contacts as her delivery is exceptionally thorough and detailed. Her strengths are her passion for delivering a five-star service that is undoubtably among the best.