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"The culture I’m committed to building within the JGHR team is rooted in a growth mindset, where every individual is empowered to take ownership, be accountable, and realise their full potential." he tells HRO.
David Jansen has been promoted to the role of General Manager - Human Resources at Jaya Grocer, effective July 2025. He was most recently Head of Human Resources.
Speaking to HRO on his top priority in his first year taking on this role, David said it would be to continue driving robust talent attraction and retention strategies that directly support our business growth and expansion plans.
"The retail landscape is constantly evolving, just like the needs of our employees and customers. To stay ahead, it’s critical that we remain agile and attuned to these changes.
"That’s why I strongly believe in cultivating a culture of listening & respect, where every voice matters, and where understanding people’s evolving expectations isn’t just a strategy, it’s a responsibility."
"Only then", he adds, "can we build a workplace that truly thrives and moves in sync with our business goals."
He goes on to talk about his plans for the company's people strategy, challenges he anticipates and hopes to solve, and more, in the snippets below:
Q How do you plan to influence or shape the company’s people strategy at this new level?
A core pillar of my People strategy is championing a strong leadership agenda across the organisation. This means identifying high-potential individuals, knowing the ones that need help, equipping our leaders with the right guidance and coaching, and building a pipeline of future-ready talent.
At the same time, I’m passionate about embracing digital transformation, especially integrating AI into our everyday work life to drive smarter, more human-centric outcomes.
Ultimately, my focus remains clear: people are at the heart of every business success, and everything we do must reflect that truth.
Q What challenges do you anticipate in this role, and how are you preparing to tackle them?
One of the key challenges I anticipate moving forward is change management. Let’s be honest, change can be uncomfortable. It’s completely normal to feel uncertain about what lies ahead. But that’s exactly where strong leadership comes in. My role is to ensure we navigate change with empathy, clarity, and structure.
By addressing concerns gradually and thoughtfully, phase by phase. A solid change management strategy is not a one-person task; it requires unity.
I’m incredibly grateful to have the full support of my JGHR team and our leadership across the business. Together, we can turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Q What kind of culture do you aim to foster within your HR team going forward?
The culture I’m committed to building within the JGHR team is rooted in a growth mindset, where every individual is empowered to take ownership, be accountable, and realise their full potential.
I believe in cultivating an environment where transparency is valued, mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn, and continuous improvement is embedded in our daily ways of working.
Over the past 2.5 years, we've been intentional in nurturing this culture, one that embraces agility and champions progress. We've strengthened our employee value proposition (EVP) through many initiatives, advanced digitalisation efforts, leadership development, driving a safe & respectful workplace, enhanced our total rewards, HRIS, safety capabilities, and many more.
More recently, we’ve taken bold steps to integrate AI into our operations, enabling the team to shift away from manual tasks and focus on more strategic, value-adding work. This transformation isn’t just about adopting new tools, it’s a mindset evolution that will continue to shape how we grow, adapt, and lead together.
Q What’s something you’re celebrating outside of work right now - to balance out the career win?
I’m not quite in celebration mode just yet. There’s still much to focus on. My energy remains fully on my team and the many plans and initiatives we have underway. We’re not there yet, but I’m with them every step of the way.
This journey has never been about one person, it’s about all of us, moving forward together. And I truly believe that as a team, we can achieve great things. When the time is right, I’ll definitely take a moment to celebrate, but not alone. I want to celebrate with my JGHR team, who’ve been instrumental throughout this journey.
And of course, I wouldn’t be here without the unconditional support of my wife, who has been my constant pillar. A well-deserved getaway is definitely in the plans!
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