Harvey Francis, Ex Skanska EVP, Chairman Skanska Construction Services Trustee, Executive coach: Navigating Leadership and Culture

Harvey Francis was a board member of Skanska UK Plc and a member of the Executive Management Team, from 2008 until 2025, with functional leadership responsibility for Human Resources, Communications, Customer Experience and strategy and planning. He retired from Skanska at the end of June 2025. He continues to serve as Chairman of Skanska Construction Services Trustee Ltd, a role he has held since 2011. Harvey joined Skanska in 2007, having spent the early part of his career in general management before moving into HR. He previously held senior HR and general management roles at Pfizer, BT, House of Fraser, and Virgin Group. Harvey featured on HR Magazine’s ‘Most Influential’ list between 2015 and 2021, and in 2022 was inducted into its ‘Most Influential’ Hall of Fame. He was featured on the HR Global 100 index in 2023 and is an editorial panel member of the HR Director magazine. His specialities include business transformation, inclusion & diversity, organisation development, strategy development, HR effectiveness and transformation, and talent management.

In this insightful conversation, Harvey Francis shares his journey through leadership and company culture, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in shaping organizational culture. He discusses the evolution of company culture, the importance of measuring employee engagement, and the balance between top-down and bottom-up approaches. Harvey also highlights the significance of assessing cultural fit during hiring, fostering collaboration, and navigating the challenges of mergers. He reflects on leadership lessons learned from mistakes and the cultural challenges faced in today's complex workplace.

• Leadership is crucial in establishing and maintaining company culture.
• Company culture has remained fundamentally the same, focusing on leadership behaviors.
• Employee engagement surveys are valuable tools for measuring culture.
• Cultural fit should be a key consideration in hiring processes.
• Collaboration requires clear goals and understanding among team members.
• Addressing non-collaborative behaviors is essential for team success.
• Cultural integration during mergers requires careful planning and communication.
• Leaders must be honest about the state of their team's culture.
• Organizations need to adapt to the changing expectations of employees.
• Leadership commitment is vital for successful organizational change.