Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 64
64
( 2026)
SPONSOR CONTENT
At Haleon, employees can unlock their full potential
P
reet Makkar, head of
human resources at
Haleon Canada ULC,
says that unlocking every
employee’s full potential
is essential to the health care
company’s purpose of delivering
better everyday health with
humanity.
Indeed, employees are proud
to work for an organization
that produces consumer health
products that enable individuals
to participate in self-care, she
says. At the same time, employee
feedback indicates that many are
eager to explore career growth
opportunities beyond traditional
titles and promotions, Makkar
adds.
We don’t tell employees
how to manage their
careers. Our focus is
‘you decide the path
you want to follow and
we will inspire, stretch
and support you on
your career journey.’
— Preet Makkar
Head of Human Resources
As it turns out, organizational
change is helping to facilitate
workplace change and the
company’s approach to career
development. Haleon plc, including
the Canadian division of the global
health care company, was formed
in 2022 following a de-merger from
GSK plc.
“Haleon is just a few years old,
Employees at Haleon Canada ULC are supported in taking advantage of coaching opportunities and mentoring
programs to grow professionally.
and as a new company our focus is
on our employees,” Makkar says.
To that end, career development
is a priority. This includes
ramping up Haleon’s mentorship
programming and changing how
mentors and mentees are paired,
Makkar says. “Each mentorship is
based on shared interests, not roles
or seniority.”
The organization also introduced
a pilot job swap program. An
employee can work for two years in
a new role — or their same position
but in a new location — for an
opportunity to expand their skills
and broaden their experience with
Haleon, Makkar says.
“We don’t tell employees how
to manage their careers,” she says.
“Our focus is ‘you decide the path
you want to follow and we will
inspire, stretch and support you on
your career journey.’”
That’s been the case for Jeff
Leeming, who’d been on a
straight-ahead career path in brand
management at Haleon Canada
and its predecessor company
since 2013. But when there was an
internal opening that would take
his career in a different direction,
he was ready to try something new.
Leeming says that he’d been
inspired to reassess how he viewed
career progression as a result of
employee seminars, coaching
opportunities, connections with
leaders, and the mentoring
program at Haleon.
“You have to drive the change
you want,” he says. “But thanks to
Haleon’s culture, people here will
do everything they can to help
you.”
So, in early 2025, Leeming
became shopper experience
manager. Previously, he had
focused on individual brands like
Advil, Buckley’s and Sensodyne.
Today, he works with some of
Canada’s largest retailers to tailor
in-store advertising campaigns
for all Haleon brands in such
portfolios as oral care, pain
management and wellness
products.
He says he also relished the
challenge of relocating to a new
unit and when it was not yet fully
staffed.
“There was no lead, no
playbook,” Leeming says. “I was
effectively the acting lead for
the first six months. The whole
experience has helped me reframe
my thinking and develop a more
creative mindset.”
Leeming says he has also
