Tees Valley, United Kingdom, October 2025 — Rachel Cawthorne has been appointed as Deputy Head of People at PD Ports, where she will play a strategic role in driving the company’s people agenda and supporting its workforce of over 1,300 employees across the UK.
Rachel has been with PD Ports for nearly 25 years, contributing significantly to its people and HR functions through various leadership roles. Most recently, she served as People Manager, where she led a team of People Business Partners and Advisors, providing HR support to more than 1,400 employees across the group. In this capacity, she was instrumental in aligning HR strategy with business objectives, guiding senior leadership on people initiatives, and ensuring compliance with employment law.
During her time as People Manager, Rachel spearheaded several key projects including the restructure of the HR function into the People Team, development of PD Ports’ Inclusion & Diversity strategy, and the implementation of a dedicated HCM system. She also played a vital role in leading the Annual Remuneration Committee to ensure transparency in pay structures and supported the launch of the company’s Annual People Awards.
Before this, Rachel held the position of Group HR Manager for over seven years, where she managed HR operations across multiple business units, and earlier in her career, she gained valuable experience as an HR Assistant at Samsung EMUK and as a Recruitment Consultant at Reed Employment Solutions.
With her deep understanding of PD Ports’ culture and long-standing commitment to its people, Rachel is set to further strengthen the organization’s HR strategy, fostering engagement, diversity, and talent development across its nationwide operations.
About PD Ports
PD Ports is one of the UK’s largest and most progressive port groups, renowned for operational excellence and a highly skilled workforce. Headquartered in the Tees Valley, it operates from 11 key ports and logistics centres nationwide, including Teesport — the fifth largest port in the UK. PD Ports employs over 1,300 people and is known for running one of the most ambitious apprenticeship programmes in the maritime industry, highlighting its commitment to developing future talent. As the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, PD Ports manages vessel traffic and ensures safe navigation for thousands of ships annually. Its ethos is rooted in creating trusted partnerships and providing seamless supply chain solutions tailored to customer needs.
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