London Area, United Kingdom, November 2025 – After more than 30 years of dedicated service, Jane Beeston is preparing to step into her next chapter. She calls it “Project Rewire” — a transition not into quiet retirement, but into a re-imagined life of purpose, curiosity and new experiences. Her tenure as Chief People Officer at Colart has been marked by strategic people leadership, transformation across global brands, manufacturing and logistics, and a commitment to aligning people, culture and business at scale.
The Long Journey: From HR Officer to Chief People Officer
Jane began her career in 1988 as an HR Officer at H.J. Heinz Company, then progressed to policy and HR roles at BSI, Friends Provident, MarketSwitch, Thomson Learning and Thomson Reuters. She developed a global mindset and deep technical competence in HR—from UK employment law, remuneration strategy to global talent and HRIS design. These foundational years prepared her for strategic leadership.
Colart: A Career Anchored in Global People Strategy
In 2002 Jane joined Colart as HR Director, then became Group HR Director (2009–2015) and finally Chief People Officer (Dec 2015–Present) with responsibility for the global strategic people agenda across 10+ countries including the U.S., France and China. Her remit included organisational design, leadership development, talent acquisition, total rewards, wellbeing and engagement. Under her leadership Colart embarked on transformation journeys that aligned people and culture with business strategy.
Project Rewire: A Commitment to Transition with Purpose
Jane’s retirement announcement emphasises not simply leaving, but rewiring. She writes:
“After 30 colourful and fulfilling years, I am preparing to retire from Colart – a company that has been not just my workplace, but a cornerstone of my life. … My goal now is not to retire in the traditional sense, but to rewire – reimagining how I spend my time.”
She prioritised a smooth handover — welcoming Helen Losq as the incoming Chief People Officer. Her emphasis on legacy, values and succession reflects the thoughtful leader she is.
Legacy & Impact: Culture, Transformation, People
Across her decades at Colart, Jane’s impact includes:
- Aligning global people strategy across manufacturing, logistics, commercial and brand units.
- Leading organisational design and leadership development programs across geographies.
- Advancing total rewards, experience and engagement in diverse matrix environments.
- Embedding a business-focused people mindset: “People + Culture = Strategy”.
Though specific awards are not publicly catalogued in major press, her nomination as a finalist for the 2025 European Diversity Awards confirms her respected standing in inclusion, diversity and HR leadership.
What Comes Next: Curiosity, Purpose, Re-Imagined Contribution
Jane defines her next chapter as full of new interests, experiences and the joy of curiosity. She writes:
“Project Rewire … to explore new interests, pursue long-held passions, and enjoy new experiences with a renewed sense of curiosity and purpose.”
Her decision to step way ahead of schedule speaks to her modern view of career and life.
In celebrating Jane Beeston, we celebrate a leader whose career reminds us that HR is not support—it is strategic, global, people-centric and anchored in purpose. Her story shows that one can build a decades-long legacy and still step forward into something new with boldness and clarity.
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