Liz Jewitt-Cross, founder and MD of Future HR, has held senior people leadership roles at several well-known UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s, New Look, and Joules. Her career in HR spans over 40 years, with a focus on transformation and change. Jewitt-Cross’s experience in retail began at a young age, with her late father working at Marks & Spencer for 33 years.
She recalls Saturday mornings spent visiting stores with her father, where she saw retail at its best, including the energy, pride, quality, service, and attention to detail. This exposure stayed with her and influenced her decision to pursue a career in HR. Jewitt-Cross started with Saturday jobs in fashion and later moved into HR in banking before returning to retail to build her career.
Her approach to HR is centered around understanding the business commercially and operating beyond policy and process. Jewitt-Cross believes that HR’s role is to help the business perform better, commercially, organisationally, and culturally. She has worked with many brands through significant periods of change, growth, and success, and has contributed to the development of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development curriculum.
Transformation and Change
Jewitt-Cross’s focus on transformation and change was shaped by her experience working with leaders who needed to adjust their approach to organisation and team delivery. She has lectured in business schools and supported future talent entering the profession, helping to shift thinking toward more commercially focused HR leadership. Jewitt-Cross has never been a “business as usual” HR leader, instead gravitating toward roles where business transformation and change were central to the agenda.
She has worked on broader transformation roles across systems, supply chain, customer experience, property, and facilities, always keeping people, leadership, and organisational effectiveness at the core. Jewitt-Cross’s approach is centered around a few key questions, including whether the strategy is truly clear to everyone and whether the organisation has the capability needed for tomorrow.
She believes that organisations need to operate holistically, like a car engine, with clarity, cohesion, connection, collaboration, capability, and adaptability. Leadership cohesion and enterprise understanding are critical to averting disjointed silo working, and strong organisation design has become equally important, particularly as businesses scale or transform.
Related Post: Retail expert discusses industry challenges with HSO
Jewitt-Cross recalls a moment when a leader commented on her unique approach, saying she was the first person not to tell them why their idea wouldn’t work, but instead how it might. This approach has stuck with her, and she believes that HR’s role is to help the business perform better, not just to follow policy and process.
The CEO-HR Partnership
The CEO-HR partnership is critical, according to Jewitt-Cross, who believes that the most significant growth and performance shifts occur when HR is truly at the top table as an equal and central partner. She has seen this partnership lead to major transformations and successful M&A activity, and believes that it is essential for businesses to deliver their ambition.
Jewitt-Cross supports businesses through Future HR, providing board advisory, project consulting, and executive and HR coaching. She also gives back through pro bono work, having supported around 150 individuals in their job search. In 2026, part of Future HR’s profits will go toward the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust and St Luke’s Hospice.
As a returning judge for the People in Retail Awards, Jewitt-Cross believes that people-focused awards are important right now because people are the difference in retail. Everything else can be replicated, but leadership, culture, and teams cannot. She loves helping businesses and leaders succeed and is looking forward to the next Retail HR Central event in Birmingham on 14 May.
Jewitt-Cross’s work with The Coaching Solution and Future HR is centered around one core question: do we have what it takes to deliver our ambition? She provides tailored and blended programmes designed to support both individuals and teams, focusing on organisational agility, talent, and next-generation people experience.
Through her work, Jewitt-Cross aims to accelerate performance through people, believing that when organisations get this right, they don’t just improve, they take off. With her extensive experience in retail and HR, Jewitt-Cross is well-placed to support businesses in the industry, and her commitment to giving back and celebrating the people behind the performance is evident in her work.
Related Post: PerfectTed co-founder Marisa Poster speaks to Retail Bulletin
As the retail industry continues to evolve and face unexpected challenges, Jewitt-Cross believes that it is essential to recognise and celebrate the people behind the industry. The People in Retail Awards are a highlight of her work, shining a light on the creativity, resilience, and commitment across the industry. With her passion for retail and HR, Jewitt-Cross is still going strong after 40 years, and her focus on accelerating performance through people shows no signs of slowing down, with her next event scheduled for 14 May in Birmingham.
As the founder and MD of Future HR, Liz Jewitt-Cross supports businesses through board advisory, project consulting, and executive and HR coaching.
Her commitment to giving back and celebrating the people behind the performance is evident in her work, including supporting individuals on a pro bono basis and donating part of Future HR’s profits to the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust and St Luke’s Hospice in 2026.
People-Focused Awards
Jewitt-Cross is a returning judge for the People in Retail Awards, which she believes are important right now because people are the difference in retail.
The Retail Bulletin has created something special with these events, according to Jewitt-Cross, who appreciates the energising, inclusive, and grounded conversations that take place. There’s a strong sense of community and a refreshing lack of grandstanding, making it a highlight of her work. As she looks to the future, Jewitt-Cross is excited to see the impact that people-focused awards will have on the retail industry, and she remains committed to accelerating performance through people.
On 14 May, Jewitt-Cross will be attending the Retail HR Central event in Birmingham, where she will have the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the industry and celebrate the people behind the performance. This event will be a chance for her to continue doing what she loves – helping businesses and leaders succeed – and to see the positive impact that people-focused awards can have on the retail industry.
