We are delighted to welcome Sarah Williams to OCS as Chief People Officer for the UK & Ireland. Sarah shares the vision of a culture where every colleague feels supported, connected and empowered to succeed. With extensive leadership experience across services, construction, distribution and retail sectors, she brings a passion for people-led initiatives and a commitment to further embedding the OCS TRUE Values – Trust, Respect, Unity and Empowerment – into everyday practices.
Listening, Learning and Leading with Empathy
Sarah’s leadership philosophy is based on empathy and a deep understanding of frontline colleagues’ roles. Reflecting on her experience at Tarmac, where she worked closely with weighbridge operators and logistics teams on the frontline, Sarah emphasised the importance of listening to and learning directly from colleagues who deliver vital services.
Sarah shared, “To lead effectively, I need to experience the reality of our colleagues’ roles. That means spending time on the frontline, shadowing shifts, and engaging directly with teams to understand their challenges and how we can better support them.”
This hands-on approach highlights Sarah’s commitment to creating a culture where frontline colleagues feel valued and empowered to perform at their best.
Embedding the OCS TRUE Values
Sarah’s vision includes further embedding the OCS TRUE Values – Trust, Respect, Unity and Empowerment – into the UK and Ireland business. These values are deeply rooted across the organisation and shape how colleagues work, connect and collaborate. Sarah’s role will build on this foundation and ensure they continue to inspire and guide everything we do.
“Our values are not just words; they are already being lived across OCS,” Sarah explained. “I aim to further embed them into appraisals, one-to-one conversations and daily interactions, so they become even more integral to how we support and empower our people.”
By aligning leadership and development frameworks with these values, Sarah aims to embed a culture in which well-being, belonging and a sense of purpose are central to the colleague experience.
Connecting Through Inclusion and Action
Sarah’s decision to join us was inspired by our commitment to inclusion and belonging. “OCS is the most inclusive organisation I’ve seen,” she said. “The values are truly lived here – demonstrated in the way people work and the support they give to one another.”
During her time at Culligan, Sarah brought together diverse teams following significant acquisitions. By focusing on inclusion, well-being and cultural alignment, she helped create a cohesive organisation with a shared purpose. She plans to bring this expertise to the UK and Ireland business, helping further unite colleagues around the TRUE Values.
A Vision for People at OCS
Sarah believes an organisation succeeds when its people feel connected, recognised and empowered. Her role will focus on delivering people-led initiatives that enable every colleague to thrive, regardless of their role or location.
“I want every colleague to feel proud of their work and enjoy their time at OCS,” Sarah said. “Creating a culture of trust, respect and belonging benefits individuals, teams and the organisation.”
Please join us in welcoming Sarah to OCS and look forward to the positive impact her appointment will bring.
