​Andy Houghton

Lay Member of University Court

Andy graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1990 having studied psychology and has enjoyed 30 years in the fields of HR, talent management and occupational psychology. ndy graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1990 having studied psychology and has enjoyed 30 years in the fields of HR, talent management and occupational psychology.

Andy spent the first 15 years of his career working in various HR roles for blue-chip organisations like British Gas, Allied Domecq and RBS. During this time, he studied at the University of London for an MSc in Occupational Psychology via a distance learning platform. With his passion for psychology reignited, he left large organisations behind and joined the consulting industry in 2004, working for YSC – the premier business psychology consultancy in the UK. In 2006, he and his wife moved to New York City to lead the growth of the business in North and South America and returned to the UK with them, following the birth of his daughter, in 2012. Briefly tempted by large organisational life, Andy joined Centrica PLC in 2015 as the HR Director for British Gas before launching his own consultancy - WholeHearted - in 2016.

WholeHearted was founded to help firms build and sustain organisational cultures where people can bring their whole selves to work. The business also provides executive coaching and team development interventions for senior leaders and emerging talent to grow and develop.

Andy lives in Edinburgh with his wife and daughter.