Lionel Owusu

Lionel Owusu is an experienced CIPD-qualified Talent professional, registered PRINCE2 Practitioner, and accredited organisational psychologist. He currently serves as the Head of Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, and Global Mobility at British International Investment PLC (BII), the UK’s Development Finance Institution. In this role, Lionel is a key member of the HR Leadership team, responsible for developing and implementing BII’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP) strategy. His responsibilities also include Lateral & Executive hiring, Early Careers programmes, Global Mobility, and managing the Contingent Workforce.

Lionel's expertise in developing an EVP is rooted in his deep understanding of what attracts and retains top talent. He has successfully designed and implemented EVP strategies that align with organisational goals, enhance employer branding, and improve employee engagement and retention. His approach is data-driven and evidence-based, ensuring that the EVP resonates with both current and prospective employees.

Before joining BII, Lionel led various talent functions and strategies. Notably, he was an Executive Director and Partner at a leading global talent consultancy, where he managed and optimised over £170 million per annum of client spend. His extensive knowledge of global labour markets spans various sectors, including FMCG, Technology, and Professional and Financial Services. This experience has equipped him with a nuanced understanding of the diverse factors that influence talent attraction and retention across different industries.

Lionel is a strong advocate for evidence-based practice, considering organisational needs in all aspects, including Assessment & Selection, Organisational Development & Change, and Contingent Workforce Management. His commercial experience encompasses all elements of acquiring and retaining talent using an EVP, and he has a proven track record of enhancing talent functions and building award-winning, global, high-performing teams, including remote teams.

A trusted custodian of Talent, Lionel's commitment to evidence-based practice has helped make his strategies both sustainable and practical. This has moulded his thinking and approach to how an EVP can be effectively implemented from both top-down and bottom-up perspectives.