Tell us a little bit about yourself.
So, I’m married to Angela and live just north of the city. We have three grown-up kids who are now busy living their best lives in Manchester and London. We moved to Stoke from London to take a new job a few years ago and by a strange coincidence the company I joined was based in the same building that is now the TMT offices.
Although it may not be obvious from my accent, I am originally from Stoke. When I was growing up our family moved away and I have been lucky enough to work in lots of different places. The result is that my accent wanders – both geographically and across class; my kids say the more anxious I get, the more Hugh Grant I sound.
Tell us about your job?
I joined TMT at the end of last year because I was impressed both by the history of the business and the potential for further growth. As CEO, my job is about working with the team at TMT to agree and deliver plans that meet the vision and goals set by Adam, our founder. The nature of my job means it is about working through the team to making sure we have a joined-up plan, and that everyone has the resources they need to do their job. It’s also about investing in the talented people at TMT to help us deliver our growth goals.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
A former boss used to say a CEO needs to know a little bit about a lot of things. I think that is exactly right and for me the wide range of the role is the best thing about my job. I get to discuss individual departmental issues and opportunities that affect TMT’s performance – from Finance and IT, through Operations to Sales and Marketing. I’m also thinking and planning for things that are two to three years away, as well as dealing with issues that affect us today.
What’s the hardest thing about your job?
It’s the opposite of the above – knowing a little about a lot, also means you need to delegate to the team of talented people in our business to get things done. So, it is really important that I communicate clearly and in way that maintains focus and builds trust. It sounds easy, but it’s often the most difficult thing to get right.
What did you do before you joined TMT?
I’ve had a long career and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to take a few changes in direction along the way. I started my career in IT as a software developer, before switching into general management. I have worked in different industries – retail, distribution, telecoms and insurance, often in the parts of those business that deal with mobile phones. That has given me the opportunity to work in lots of different countries and work with businesses that have ranged in size from employing 50 to 22,000 people.
My last before job before joining TMT was with a large mobile phone insurer, who are also a customer of TMT’s, and where I did a number of roles including running European operations.
What’s your ambition?
I am an ambitious person and I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve many of the business-related goals that I set for myself when I started my career. The most important thing for me now is to build a really great business with an enduring legacy and at the same time support my colleagues and help them accelerate towards their personal goals and objectives.
Tell us something no-one knows about you?
Well, I’ll settle for something that I think nobody knows at TMT at least. I’m a big music fan and have also played bass guitar for many years, so if anyone knows of a band looking for a really average bass player – I’m available.
And finally, what’s your motto?
I’m not sure I have one, but the first that comes to mind – ‘Better to regret the things you did than the things you didn’t do.’