“I once ran in a 10k road race with Sir Mo Farah – I like to think that he saw me as a threat”
Describe yourself in three words.
Open, driven and challenging.
What’s your biggest professional achievement?
Leading an industry-wide team to reduce UK road miles by 200m per annum.
How did you get to where you are today?
By keeping things simple and not taking no for an answer.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There’s really no such thing. Every day brings new challenges and that’s what I love about this industry.
What have been the highlights of your company’s history, in your opinion?
Being recognised by customers as a dedicated partner.
What is your pet hate?
Reply to all.
Give us a positive prediction for the food industry over the next 12 months.
As online, convenience and foodservice sectors grow, agility and responsiveness in logistics and supply chain is going to be critical. Many businesses across both logistics and manufacturing have built models based on servicing large retail regional distribution centres and the change in the dynamic will throw up some interesting challenges.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Empathy and clarity of message.
Who do you most admire?
My wife and family for their unwavering support.
Which people/organisations or companies are the ones to watch right now?
It has to be Amazon.
Which words do you most overuse?
Why not?
If you weren’t in your current position, what else might you be doing?
Probably in some form of lecturing role – sharing the challenges with the next generation.
Tell us something about yourself that few people know.
I once ran in a 10k road race with Sir Mo Farah – as I was passing through the 1k mark he raced through the 9k mark on the opposite side of the road. I like to think that he saw me as a threat and that led him to deliver the double double.
Any vices?
Impatience.
What single thing would most improve the quality of your life?
No other cars being allowed on the A1 after 14:00 on a Friday.
How do you relax?
I’m a third generation season ticket holder at Gillingham FC so it’s probably unfair to say it’s relaxing, but it’s in my blood so you learn to take the rough with the smooth.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a great boss.
