Ancel Draai
Senior Director, Growth HRP
Ancel Draai helps organisations rethink how people systems support long-term business growth. With two decades at Sage and a sharp focus on value-driven consulting, he brings deep expertise in both compliance and change management across sectors.
About
Ancel Draai is the Senior Director of Growth for HR and Payroll at TydeCo™, where he leads with a strong focus on strategic value, practical outcomes, and long-term client relationships. With more than 20 years of experience in the HR and payroll industry, including two decades at Sage, Ancel brings deep technical knowledge paired with a sharp understanding of organisational change.
Since joining TydeCo™, he has played a key role in scaling the HR and payroll division, doubling both team size and revenue while helping the business mature through improved internal systems and smarter ways of working. His approach centres on meaningful client engagement, listening first, and building trust through solutions that reflect the realities of complex operations, particularly in sectors like agriculture where compliance and pay structures are uniquely challenging.
Ancel believes that the best salespeople are the best listeners. He works closely with his team to champion thoughtful discovery, intelligent implementation, and performance-focused systems that support not only payroll accuracy but true organisational growth. Whether advising on integrations, reshaping reporting structures, or helping HR leaders approach retention differently, he is committed to delivering tools and strategies that support lasting impact for both clients and their people.
Expertise
- HR and payroll strategy: Deep experience aligning compliance, performance, and workforce planning to support evolving organisational needs.
- Complex stakeholder engagement: Skilled at guiding change across C-suite, operational teams, and administrators with a value-focused, consultative approach.
- Sector-specific problem solving: Specialises in navigating industry nuances, including agriculture, unionised workforces, and variable pay environments.
- Sales and team leadership: Builds high-performing, client-centred teams with a strong emphasis on listening, trust, and long-term relationships.
Articles By Ancel
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: BILLABLE HOURS DON’T SCALE THEMSELVES
Professional services businesses operate in highly competitive environments, with multiple law firms, accounting practices, and consultancies occupying the same business ecosystem and oftentimes targeting the same clientele. To scale and compete effectively, these businesses must prioritise operational efficiency. Traditional methods of tracking income and expenses, recording billable hours, and gathering insights for financial reporting are…
HR Tech Isn’t the Problem. Change Management Is.
A conversation with Ancel Draai, Senior Director, Growth – HRP (Human Resource & Payroll Services), UKIA Most HR and payroll rollouts don’t fail because of the software. They fail because teams weren’t ready to change. That’s the core message from Ancel Draai, Senior Director of Growth at Sage. After years of leading implementation across industries,…
If HR’s in a Silo, So Are You
A conversation with Ancel Draai, Senior Director, Growth – HRP (Human Resource & Payroll Services), UKIA When companies talk about scaling, they usually start with sales. But behind every growth curve is a people problem—hiring faster than you can onboard, managing teams across locations, and trying to lead culture from a spreadsheet. Ancel Draai sees…
