Swim England has hired Maria Papadopoulos, a former employee, as its new people director, effective 28 April.
Papadopoulos previously worked at Swim England as a people development partner before leaving to join Mattioli Woods. She will rejoin from Fisher and Paykel Appliances, where she has held the role of head of people and capability for UK and Ireland.
In her new role, Papadopoulos will work with Swim England’s chief executive and senior leadership team to provide the strategic direction and leadership of the people team, and develop and evolve a high-performance culture. This includes employees working to make a difference, have fun, maintain a work-life balance, and invest in their own growth for Swim England’s clubs, members and stakeholders.
Papadopoulos said: “I loved my time at Swim England and was so proud of the organisation and how it contributes to the nation. I left to gain experience in other industries and roles, but I always hoped I would get to come back one day. I’m so passionate about creating employee experiences that allow people to thrive personally and professionally.
“People deserve to find that in their job wherever they work but I’m especially excited to deliver that for our team, who work so hard for the huge number of people who benefit from great experiences in water. We have a new strategy, which is both inspiring and accessible, and I’m really excited to be a part of delivering it.”
Andy Salmon, chief executive of Swim England, added: “We’re delighted that Maria is returning to Swim England. She was a popular member of the team before moving on in a bid to gain different career experiences and I know many people will be pleased to see her back with us. Maria will bring a wealth of fresh ideas and perspectives as we embark on our One Swim England journey, and will help develop and maintain a high-performance culture where everyone thrives and feels empowered to reach their full potential. We look forward to her starting work with us again and becoming part of our new-look senior leadership team.”
