“Expanding waist lines are a big threat to the quality of life the sunshine would bring”
Describe yourself in three words.
Fun, hardworking, loyal.
What’s your biggest professional achievement?
Having a professional paper published while in the middle of my undergraduate degree.
How did you get to where you are today?
Working my way up through the ranks and trying my hand at lots of different areas of the food industry – from artwork and specification legal checking, sales and NPD work, before entering the world of auditing throughout Europe and across the globe.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It ranges from feeding my one-year-old son breakfast, changing clothes for the second time and heading upstairs to help answer my colleague’s questions through Skype and email to getting out and about, meeting clients, auditing sites and witnessing auditors. The variety of my day is the exciting part of the job.
What have been the highlights of your company’s history, in your opinion?
Cert ID is the market leader in non GMO certification, auditing and all other non GMO services. The company was founded from finding a gap in this area of the food industry and, while expanding in other fields, it is still market leader for non GMO certification and regularly issues technical bulletins on the subject, guiding the industry on GM testing and traceability requirements.
What is your pet hate?
Being on the road quite a lot, middle lane drivers and roadworks with no one working.
Give us a positive prediction for the food industry over the next 12 months.
Greater education in food preparation and food origins which will help consumers make better and more informed choices.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Strong willed, but willing to listen.
Who do you most admire?
The late Terry Pratchett – a fantastic author who despite his challenges continued to inspire others and bring joy through his literature.
Which people/organisations or companies are the ones to watch right now?
The BRC are making great strides in entering the Americas market and the introduction of various Voluntary Modules to the BRC auditing, including the Food Safety Modernisation Act – a requirement for all food manufacturers supplying into the US – and Culture of Excellence will only help in their growth.
Which words do you most overuse?
I’ll see what I can do.
If you weren’t in your current position, what else might you be doing?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a vet, so something animal related. I always fancied the idea of being a game warden in one of the African reserves.
Tell us something about yourself that few people know.
I am a 10th dan at judo.
Any vices?
The odd cider or two.
What single thing would most improve the quality of your life?
I love cooking barbeques but will only use coal as I see gas as cheating, so it would have to be: more sunshine. The downside of this is I tend to cook too much, so expanding waist lines are a big threat to the quality of life the sunshine would bring!
How do you relax?
I enjoy watching TV box sets and films and on the odd occasion playing mindless games (as my wife would say) on the Xbox.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a loving husband, father and friend.
