New Director of People, Culture, and Wellbeing for the University of Westminster

Caragh Molloy, the former Group People Director of the Open University, has joined the University of Westminster as their new Director of People, Culture, and Wellbeing.

The University of Westminster has a long and distinctive history. Founded over 180 years ago as London’s first polytechnic institution, it has become known for the many ways in which it helps students to realise their full potential, regardless of background. This is an exciting time for the University, as it begins to deliver its 2022-2029 strategic plan, which is itself heavily focused on people issues. 

The University considers the role of Director of People, Culture and Wellbeing as key to its future performance, growth, differentiation, and purpose, and so turned to Society to assit with the appointment process. After an extensive search, they concluded that Caragh Molloy was the person best placed to enable the delivery of their strategic plan through culture change, leadership development, organisational quality improvements and transformation. In Caragh, they saw someone with a track record of promoting excellence, fostering effective teams, and working to make both staff and students feel included, supported, and safe.

Caragh has over 15 years' experience in Higher Education, with her most recent role being Group People Director for the Open University. She was previously Deputy Director of Human Resources at the University of Liverpool, and also spent a period as Director of People for Plus Dane Housing Ltd. She is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Postgraduate Certificate in the Psychology of Organisational Change and Development.

Caragh has now joined the University of Westminster as a member of their Senior Management Team. In addition to core HR, she will provide leadership for a range of business areas including Safety, Health, and Wellbeing; Organisational Learning and Development; Resourcing and Reward; Recruitment; Management Information Systems; and Advisory Services.

Caragh commented:

"I am delighted to have joined Westminster as Director of People, Culture, and Wellbeing at such an exciting time for the University in implementing our Being Westminster strategy; with the People enabler at the heart of the strategy, I am looking forward to the fantastic opportunity this role provides to make a difference for our students and colleagues.

I have really appreciated the approach the team at Society have taken throughout this process from initial discussion to the appointment. Simon and the team showed great knowledge, understanding and insight into the University, which was invaluable in my preparation for the selection process."