Meet Debbie Kent: Director, FSP Operations (United Kingdom)

"It is so good to see the company focused on growing the FSP business globally and supporting our clients with our unique approach."

Debbie shares about the Functional Service Provider (FSP) team and how Parexel has changed within the past few years. 

• Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel.
  Hi, my name is Debbie Kent! My role at Parexel is Director, FSP Operations and I live in Sandwich, UK.
• When did you first join Parexel and what was your role at the time?
  I first joined Parexel in September 2002 as Senior Operations Manager, Contract Personnel Services. I then left in October 2015 but then returned in spring of 2021.
• Why did you make the decision to return to Parexel?
  Parexel was my life for a very long time. When I started in 2002 it was a fairly small company and I lived through the "growth years", which made it a difficult decision for me to leave when I did. Because I had so many friends still in the company, I always kept in touch, and I decided to reach out to the FSP team again to see if there was a position for me to come back. My decision was mainly driven by the new Parexel and the 'With Heart' approach. I asked a few individuals at the time what it was like with the new approach, and they were all very happy with the changes that had taken place in the last few years, so it seemed like coming home was for me!
• What is different at Parexel now compared to when you first were here?
  When I first started it was more like a ‘family’ company, and then it changed as it grew into the larger CRO and it lost the ‘personal touch’. I see this back now and I do think that the Leadership Team now lives by what we say - easy to work with, and easy to work for. FSP is growing in Europe and that is where my heart is. It is so good to see the company focused on growing the FSP business globally and supporting our clients with our unique approach.
• What would you tell other colleagues who may be considering returning to Parexel?
  ‘Do it’ - get in touch with any of your ex-colleagues or HR and tell them you want to come back! Parexel is a very different place to work now than it was many years ago, and I am very happy to be back.
• What is your favorite thing about your job?
  The work variety and being able to have direct client accountability for the work the team are doing. I have a great team that I work with and get the support from Senior Management that I need. I also value the flexibility - although Parexel was always flexible about home working and I always worked from home, I feel it is more comfortable now that more people work from home 100%.
• What is one way you put Patients First in your everyday work?
  In the FSP business, our staff have direct access to patients, so I do feel that I can share my knowledge and experience with the team to facilitate great line management oversight and to ensure that our staff put patients first in everything that they do. Performance excellence is at the heart of what we do in FSP and working with our clients to ensure that we are proactive and regularly suggest process improvements – it is a true partnership with them to support their studies and patients.
• What do you do for fun outside of work?
  I have 2 grown up boys both living away from home, so my spare time is now taken up with travel (I love Italy) and gardening (including a kitchen garden). My husband and I have an active lifestyle, including mountain biking, walking, kayaking and paddleboarding (benefits from living very close to the sea). 

Did you enjoy learning about Debbie's story? Check out more of Parexel employees here.

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