Describe what you do in less than 20 words.
I work with a fabulous team selecting brilliant products to help us all sell more to our existing customers.
Your first full-time job.
Selling forceps, hip joints and heart valves to hospitals.
If you weren’t doing your present job, what job would you like to be doing?
Professional bike racer with Team Sky or cake tester at Betty’s Café & Tearooms in Harrogate.
Your best piece of advice to someone who has just joined the OP industry.
Stationery is spelt with an ‘e’, not an ‘a’ – and it’s not stationary, so keep on learning!
Your most embarrassing industry-related experience.
Oversleeping on my first trip to Paperworld in Frankfurt and chasing around the exhibition looking for the ever punctual John Rogers.
Your greatest strength.
My enthusiasm.
Your favourite event on the OP circuit and why.
The Yorkshire BOSS Dinner – I get to see lots of old friends and I’m on the committee.
Your favourite office product.
My Nespresso machine!
What business/management book would you recommend as essential reading?
The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters (and yes, I am one quite a lot of the time).
What do you like best about the OP industry?
The fabulous enthusiastic people.
Your first vehicle/car.
Red Fiat Panda.
The first record you bought.
Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon.
The biggest change that has taken place in the industry since your career began.
The product mix – there are no more typewriter ribbons, but lots more loo rolls.
Your favourite holiday destination.
Currently the Cote D’Azur, but there are still lots of places that I’ve not seen yet.
Best way to spend the weekend.
Eating, running and socialising.
Any pets?
Two cats – Jet and Pebbles.
Have you got a claim to fame?
I’ve worked for four wholesalers (when there were four) – Neville & Gladstone, John Heath, Kingfield (VOW) & Spicers.
The best concert you have ever been to.
Madonna’s Who’s That Girl tourat Roundhay Park in 1987.
What sports team do you support and why?
Team Sky ProCycling – I love their marginal gains strategy (and their team outfits).
