What has inspired me?
I’ve worked in a variety of organisations, from large and corporate, to small and entrepreneurial
companies. I’ve progressed, been promoted, been made redundant, managed teams, supported
acquisitions and guided complex IT integrations. I’ve been a buyer, a supplier, a customer, a
detective, a problem solver, a project manager, a trainee, a trainer, and a mentor.
In all these organisations, situations, and roles there is one thing that has given me inspiration and purpose…. the truly great people I’ve had the privilege of
working with, learning from, succeeding with, and sometimes failing with …. people with great ideas, teams who worked out how to make them happen and
then… (mostly) made them happen.
Over the years I’ve worked with some very clever and inspiring people, some incredible hands-on people, some great entrepreneurial thinkers, and those who
always go the extra mile to help. I’ve worked in some difficult situations, with teams battling through muck and bullets, and we’ve come out the other end smiling. Everyone I’ve worked with has taught me something new, given me a good reason to go into work every day, and I’ve made some valued friendships along
the way.
Why Advantia?
I first met Advantia as a new customer with an innovative idea – reinventing the way Advantia’s members could access products and have them delivered to their
Customers.
Dealers could take cost out of their businesses; become a stockless supplier, contract out deliveries to a company trained to represent the Dealer’s business as if
it were their own, give access to customers operating on a nationwide basis, and allow Dealers to concentrate on sales and their customer’s needs.
Working with Advantia and all their members to turn that innovative idea into reality was both an immense education and an epic achievement. Each Dealer had
their own concerns and needs, and I strived to make sure that every member got the very best from the solution. Overall, we were able to shape the model to
benefit everyone within the Advantia Group.
Roll the clock forward and I had the opportunity to join Advantia – working for the Group, rather than being a supplier to the Group, and towards each Advantia
member being my customer in a much wider, but much closer sense. It was an easy decision. Moving to a role within Advantia delivered all the inspiration I’d
received - at various times, and in various places during my career - in one place - and all at once!
Our Advantia family are all passionate, all dedicated, all striving to find a way to differentiate their business. Across the spectrum they are entrepreneurial, hands
on, have great ideas, need access to advice, have varying levels of IT and skills ability, demand the very best support…. and get it from a Head Office team who
really get it!! – and I am proud to be one of the team who gets it - understanding my customer’s needs, and their customer’s needs - and can give that experience and expertise back, to help them move forward