Meet Cobalt's new Head of HR

We are delighted to welcome Alex Moody to Cobalt as our new Head of HR. We recently caught up with Alex to find out a little bit more about her HR journey, why she decided to join Cobalt, and what she likes to do to relax and unwind outside of office hours.

So Alex, tell us about your journey to becoming Cobalt's Head of HR?
I have worked in HR for nearly 25 years primarily in the private sector, most recently as HR Director for a regional law firm and then as Associate Director of Workforce for a small NHS trust. I left the legal sector to move to the NHS as I wanted to work for a non-profit organisation; however, when Covid struck I was unable to work on-site for medical reasons and therefore I decided to take a career break rather than try and work remotely in an environment where pretty much everyone was on the front-line. I was lucky enough to be able to be quite choosy about what role I applied for next and as I wanted to work for a charity, it was a case of waiting for the right role to present itself. I am a firm believer in fate!

What attracted you to Cobalt?
I was keen to move into the charity sector as working for an organisation with a strong social purpose is very important to me. My experience in the NHS meant Cobalt was a good fit but more importantly on a personal level Cobalt’s mission and purpose really resonated with me, having battled with a brain tumour in recent years I know all too well the significance of diagnostic imaging.  I was struck by the opportunity to be able to use my experience to make a real impact on employee’s lives within the organisation given Cobalt’s recent growth. I like the fact that Cobalt is big enough to make a difference but small enough to really care.

What is your first priority as Head of HR?
Beyond building relationships with my peers and colleagues to understand their challenges and issues, I am keen to focus on recruitment and talent management. Radiography is such an under publicised career choice and Cobalt’s career offering is something we need to push at all levels, starting with school-age kids, particularly with the apprenticeship route now being available.

What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
To always treat people with dignity and respect even when you have to make difficult decisions, which you often do working in HR. Also to always start from a position of trust, which I have only truly learnt to do in the last few years, but it is so important and makes for a far more positive working culture.

How do you like to spend your spare time outside of working hours?
As a single mum with two children, I spend most of my time being a taxi, but I have recently taken up learning to play the piano and have started growing vegetables - although I don’t think I’ll be self-sufficient any time soon. I used to have an obsession with buying shoes but now its plants, I have fallen in love with my garden during lockdown, it’s nothing special and for a long time I left it to its own devices but I have transformed it over the last year, pottering in your own outside space is great for your mental health.

And finally, what is your all-time favourite movie?
I would have to pick two because they are so very different and I can’t choose between them. Love Actually and Pulp Fiction