Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, September 2025 — Hannah Dawson (previously Coutu-Oughton) has been appointed as Head of Strategic People Partners, Skills & Organisational Development (OD) at Companies House. Alongside this significant career move, she has also achieved the milestone of becoming a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, reflecting her deep expertise and contribution to the HR profession.
Before joining Companies House, Dawson built a distinguished career at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), where she served as Head of HR Business Partnering. In this role, she led strategic HR initiatives, driving organisational performance and shaping policies across the public sector. She had earlier been Lead HR Business Partner and Head of Strategic Resourcing at ONS, providing leadership across workforce planning, HR analytics, and large-scale organisational change.
Dawson also gained experience through a secondment at Natural Resources Wales, where she was instrumental in designing new performance management policies, launching workforce strategies, and shaping job evaluation systems. Earlier in her career, she held roles at the Welsh Government, including as HR Business Partner and Recruitment Manager, where she led workforce transitions, organisational restructuring, and strategic HR projects that generated significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
With over 15 years of experience in HR leadership, talent strategy, and organisational development across government and public institutions, Hannah Dawson brings strong expertise in change management, workforce planning, and people leadership to Companies House. Her appointment underscores the agency’s commitment to strengthening its people agenda, supporting skills development, and advancing its mission of transparency and accountability in the UK economy.
About Companies House
Companies House is an executive agency of the UK Department for Business and Trade. It drives confidence in the economy by creating a transparent and accountable business environment. Through its work, Companies House ensures that reliable company data informs business and consumer decisions, supports economic growth, and disrupts economic crime.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
