Serving the Teesside Business Community | 53
THINK LIKE MR
SPOCK IN STAR
TREK, AS LOGIC GETS
YOU A LONG WAY.
When I was at school, I wanted to be…a
vet. As a young boy I was madly in love with
the veterinary nurse at the local practice,
so the best strategy that I came up with,
quite naively, was to become a vet in order
to impress her. Which didn’t happen by
the way. Fast forward 40 years, I ended up
marrying one! Best decision I ever made…
Four words to describe me are…
impatient, upbeat, glass half full, not
always very structured. I appreciate that’s
more than four words!
The best business decision I ever made
was…probably leaving everything that I
knew for a job here in Teesside with PD
Ports. That was a big step for me and it was
only supposed to be for six years. I have
been here for 11 years and have loved every
minute of it. My business mantra is…it is what it
is. What I mean by that is that on many
occasions you’re faced with a situation
or an outcome that is not what was
foreseen or wanted. But you can’t change
the past, so there is no point in dwelling
on what we could have done differently…
as it is what it is. The question is, what
are you going to do about it?
The worst business decision I ever
made was…I make lots of decisions on
a daily basis, the majority I get right but
sometimes you get it wrong and that’s ok
too. That’s very much part and parcel of life
as well. My greatest achievement is…convincing
my wife that going out with me was a
good idea. I was punching way above my
weight. Still am, truth be known.
The best part of my job is…the genuine
privilege to work with a very talented,
diverse and young upcoming management
team. They don’t take “No” for an answer
and just keep pushing the boundaries. I
think that’s just great and to see them move
the business forward gives me incredible
energy.
The biggest downside of my working
life is…there are only 24 hours in a day. It’s
simply not enough! The job requires long
hours but equally my family is so important
to me. And, in all honesty, the two don’t
always go together in terms of having the
necessary time available.
If I could change one thing to help my
organisation it would be…we are still -
and this is an endemic and cultural issue
- a fairly hierarchical organisation and that
can stifle decisive and agile leadership.
We are getting better at it, but equally we
have got some way to go. My philosophy
is to delegate authority as far down in the
organisation as is possible. Let people make
their own decisions, rather than always
delegating it upwards...it just doesn’t work.
The advice I’d give to business start-
ups is…for every decision you need to
take, just follow the logic. Think like Mr
Spock in Star Trek, as logic gets you a long
way.
The biggest personality on the Tees
business scene is…Peter Stephenson
is one to consider, so are Gary Dawson,
Steve Gibson and Bill Scott. I probably
would go for the latter.
The individual who is my tip for the top
among Tees businesses is…Sharon Lane
from Tees Components. She is, together
with the wider team, doing a really good
job in transforming that business with
enthusiasm and a “can-do” attitude.
Teesside’s a great place for business
because…it’s big enough to matter but
small enough to know the key people or
enablers who can make the difference.
Teesside has an incredible infrastructure
that will create real opportunities for
generations to come. This is no backwater
- this is Teesside!
My biggest frustration about Teesside
is…stop talking yourself down! You have a
lot more to celebrate, to cherish and look
forward to. I can see the challenges too,
but it is also within our reasonable gift to do
something about it.
My favourite local charities are…High
Tide, Daisy Chain and the Headlight Project
that was established in memory of Russell
Devereux.
When I’m not working, I like to spend
my time…with the family. They keep me in
check. I have little to no authority at home,
which is great. The children are all very
headstrong and little can hold them back -
except for a temporary ban on the Xbox, that
seems to have some effect occasionally.
My guilty pleasures are…spending a week
with my brother and a whole bunch of friends
from old on holiday in Croatia. As a group of
friends we go back some 40 years now. But
as always, what happens on tour stays on
tour.
When I’m stressed about work, I…
usually go and visit one of our operational
areas down at the port. That always puts
things in perspective, as we employ some
exceptionally great folk who are really good at
what they do. They immediately put you back
on the straight and narrow.
Not many people know this about me
but…when I figured out I wouldn’t become a
vet, I wanted to become a submarine captain.
Still do by the way. Go and read Jules Verne’s
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and you will
know what I mean. You will then also know
that Nemo is not a fish from Disney - he was
actually Captain Nemo who was the master
of the Nautilus, a submarine.
In retirement, I’ll spend my time…working.
And, with a bit of luck, being the master and
commander of my own Nautilus.