Shell's Hugh Mitchell named most influential practitioner of the decade (Frith, 2015, Abridged: http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/article-details/shellshugh-mitchell-named-most-influential-practitioner-ofthe-decade).
As he announces his retirement, Hugh Mitchell, Chief Human Resources and Corporate Officer for Shell, has been named the most influential HR practitioner of the decade. The expert panel that ranks the most influential HR practitioners described Mitchell as 'the right hand to his CEO'.
He is seen as having enormous longevity, working incredibly well at board level, being great at stakeholder management, and having a strong point of view about the role of HR. Publishing Director of \(H R\) Magazine Siân Harrington added of Mitchell: 'He manages \(H R\) in a highly complex and challenging company, contributes widely to the profession, and runs HR in a business that covers 90 countries and employs some 100,000 people. He champions progressive HR policies, including flexible working in some of the most senior HR roles in the business, showing that mature corporations can successfully change and pioneer new approaches'. During his acceptance speech, Cassidy (a colleague who collected the award on Mitchell's behalf) drew attention to Hugh's irreverent sense of humour. He also praised Mitchell for his achievements in getting people management strategies on the very highest business agenda at Shell.

Questions
1 What do you find surprising about Hugh Mitchell's achievements as an HR practitioner?
2 What do you consider the benefits and risks of an HR specialist being a 'CEO's right hand person'?
3 What lessons do you find personally relevant from these insights?
4 What theoretical concepts can you apply to this excerpt?
5 Reflect on the 'dark side' of HR practices in the energy sector.
6 Search on the internet for HR Magazine's 'Most Influential Thinker' list of practitioners. Note individuals on the list who work in MNCs. Choose one to explore their career trajectory and thoughts on global HRM.
7 Search on the internet for HR Magazine's 'Most Influential Thinker' list of academics over the past three years and compare how the rankings have changed in terms of key themes.