Debbie Gibson, Head of Strategic Partnerships at activpayroll, is celebrating 10 years with the Aberdeen-headquartered global payroll, mobility, tax, HR and payments specialist.
Debbie joined activpayroll in 2016 as a Key Account Manager, following a 17-year career in banking. With customer service and building strong client relationships central to her previous roles, activpayroll’s customer-first culture immediately resonated with her.
Her connection with the business began before she joined. Through local business and networking events across Aberdeen, Debbie met activpayroll founder and former CEO Alison Sellar, whose ambition to build a global business from the North-east of Scotland made a lasting impression.
When the opportunity arose to join activpayroll, Alison personally met with Debbie to share her vision for the company, its culture and future growth plans.
Debbie Gibson, Head of Strategic Partnerships, commented: “I was always inspired by Alison’s energy, ambition and passion for building a truly global business from the North-east of Scotland. At the time, I actually had another job offer on the table. However, the time and genuine interest Alison invested in getting to know me made a lasting impression.
“It gave me confidence that activpayroll was a company that valued its people as much as its success. That personal connection, combined with the opportunity to be part of an innovative and growing business, made my decision an easy one. Looking back 10 years later, it was absolutely the right choice.”
Over the past decade, Debbie has progressed through a number of roles across activpayroll, broadening her experience and responsibilities before moving into her current position. As Head of Strategic Partnerships, she leads the company’s partner ecosystem, working with organisations around the world to develop relationships that support clients with their international growth.
The opportunity to develop her career has been one of the highlights of her time with the business.
“The business has always encouraged people to grow, take on new responsibilities and pursue their ambitions, and I’m proud of the journey I’ve been on over the last 10 years.”
During Debbie’s time with activpayroll, the business has expanded its global reach, technology and service offering, while evolving from a privately owned company to a private equity-backed organisation. Despite this growth, Debbie says the customer-first culture that attracted her to the business has remained.
“We’ve grown considerably as a business, but we’ve never lost sight of our values or the importance of building strong relationships, both internally and externally. Despite our global footprint, activpayroll still feels like a close-knit team, and I think that’s quite unique.
“As someone who has been part of that journey, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see a business that started in Aberdeen continue to grow its reputation and presence on the global stage.”
Looking ahead, Debbie is focused on continuing to support the growth of activpayroll’s Strategic Partnerships team and developing new partnerships as the global payroll and workforce solutions landscape continues to change.
“Reaching my 10-year milestone is something I’m incredibly proud of. Looking back, it’s been a fantastic journey filled with opportunities to learn, grow and work alongside some truly talented people. I’m looking forward to helping shape new partnerships, supporting our growth ambitions and seeing where the business goes over the next decade.”
The milestone comes during a landmark year for activpayroll, as the company celebrates 25 years in global payroll. Founded in Aberdeen in 2001, the business has grown its global presence over the past quarter of a century while continuing to support organisations with their international payroll and workforce requirements.