1. 17 Soumagnas St Auvent
87310 FRANCE
Mylesgibson1@gmail.com
00 33 555 34 23 30
07773 764345 (m)
LUCY BARKAS
I had the privilege of working with Lucy for three years while we established the Business Performance
Assurance (BPA) function in npower Retail.
BPA was a multi-discipline team which provided compliance, sales incentive management, management
information and customer relations activities. The primary aim of the function was to provide reassurance to
shareholders, directors and customers that all of npower Retail’s activities were focussed on doing the right
thing by our customers. The individuals in the team were of mixed ability, technical expertise and experience,
which gave us a number of challenges in introducing an individual development programme for them.
Lucy took personal responsibility for the PRIDE programme – our fast track development programme for high
potential team members. She did this while continuing in her main role of managing a complex and high
profile Commissions Governance team. Lucy demonstrated a wide range of personal attributes in doing so,
to an extremely high level. These included
 Total integrity and commitment to the team’s and her own goals
 Clear and consistent focus on her objectives
 Clear and continuous communication with staff and managers at all levels
 Considerable tact and diplomacy and an ability to achieve “win-win” outcomes
 A determination to succeed and not to compromise on quality or professionalism
 The ability to prioritise and delegate effectively to ensure progress and momentum were maintained
on a number of fronts
 Very high dynamism, enthusiasm and energy levels and an ability to motivate, involve and excite
others
PRIDE members responded fully and enthusiastically to the programme Lucy had designed and many went
on to greater things. The effect of the introduction of the programme was also reflected in the Employee
Satisfaction Surveys in which BPA staff recorded the highest scores across the npower Retail group. PRIDE
became a model for self-development across npower Retail, actively and enthusiastically supported by the
group Management Development team. This is entirely the result of Lucy’s great efforts and is a great credit
to her.
Within a year of her taking responsibility for the Commissions Governance area the npower Group Finance
Director wrote to her to thank her personally for the significant improvements she had made in its operations.
She achieved this remarkable success at the same time as she was implementing the PRIDE programme.
Myles Gibson
Head of Business Performance Assurance, npower 2009-2013
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