Cooper will succeed Gill Rider, who has held the role since 2010
The CIPD will see in the New Year with a new president, following the announcement that professor Cary Cooper will succeed Gill Rider, who has held the position since 2010.
Professor Cooper was nominated for the role at the organisation's annual general meeting on 15 December, having built connections with the CIPD over the last few years. He will hold an initial tenure of three years.
He takes on the CIPD presidency with a reputation for groundbreaking research into health and wellbeing at work. Prof Cooper has written more than 120 books on subjects including occupational stress, women at work, and industrial and organisational psychology: and recently opened the 2015 CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition with a keynote on mental capital and wellbeing in the workplace.
"The fast changing nature of work means there’s never been a more crucial time for organisations to put wellbeing at the heart of their culture,” professor Cooper said, following his election. “The CIPD has long championed how employee wellbeing is key to building high performing, productive workplaces and I’m delighted to be given the chance to work with the CIPD and its members to move this important agenda forward.”
Peter Cheese, CIPD chief executive, commented: “We are thrilled to officially welcome Cary into the CIPD family. As an ambassador at the highest level with a natural ability to inspire those around him, Cary’s passion for wellbeing in the workplace is second to none. His passion for the people agenda within business makes him an ideal representative and spokesperson to support the CIPD in its purpose of championing better work and working lives.”
The CIPD offered its thanks to Gill Rider for her significant contributions to the CIPD throughout the course of her five-year presidency.