New HR director appointed at Johnson Controls

This makes her all the more passionate about a company such as Johnson Controls that believes that employees are at the heart of the business.

Says Van Wyk: "Johnson Controls is a forward thinking company. It invests heavily in skills development and retention and offers employees great scope for advancement locally as well as internationally."

Important to bridge the gap

Van Wyk will be reinforcing this with talent management, rewards and recognition and building a high performance culture. Van Wyk is further responsible for aligning Johnson Controls' HR practices with global standards. She believes that this will enable her to assist the business with its growth strategy in Africa and Johnson Controls setting the standard in facilities management globally.

"My most important role is that of bridging the gap that often exists between top management and employees. Johnson Controls has a global footprint and the position requires a person with high levels of adaptability and resilience. I get this inspiration from great spiritual leaders who stuck to the course under difficult circumstances and forged ahead even if the odds were against them," she says.