CHEP is the global leader in managed, returnable and reusable packaging solutions, serving many of the world’s largest companies in sectors such as consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage and automotive. We help businesses to move, store and protect their products through the supply chain in a cost effective, safe and environmentally sound way. Through our quality equipment, information systems, network scale, insights and people, we believe we can help every business to systematically reduce their total packaging-driven supply chain costs. CHEP is part of Brambles Limited. For further information, visit www.chep.com.
WLN – What brought you to this industry?
The variety and the challenge. Before I joined CHEP, I spent most of my career working for organisations with a small number of large customers – CHEP has a large number of customers spanning all different industry sectors and they can vary in size from a grower needing a few pallets a year to deliver pumpkins into a retailer at Halloween to a major drinks manufacturer needing thousands of pallets a day. Creating a customer services environment that supports the size and scale of such a varied population of customers struck me as an interesting challenge to take on.
WLN – What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
CHEP’s unique position in the supply chain gives us access to so much data and so much information. We are only just starting to scratch the surface in understanding what we could do with that to work with our retailer and manufacturer customers to build better supply chains.
WLN – Who inspired you most in your career?
An unknown Australian on the ski slopes in Andorra: I had had a crashing fall and he brought me one of my ski poles. He said a few words to me before he skied off leaving me to sort myself out and they have stuck with me as a saying relevant to all areas of life: “If you’re looking for sympathy it’s in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis”. Quite simply you’re on your own – if you want something out of life there is only you that will drive hard to get it. People will give you small bits of help along the way but most of it is up to you.
WLN – If you were an item in a warehouse, what would you be?
Probably the packing bench: I ran a warehouse many years ago where any small shipments were packaged in-house and sent out by courier – standing listening to the guys on the bench talk while they worked taught me more about what was really going on in the company (the gossip as well as the business side) than any management meetings ever did.
WLN – If you had to do it all over again, what would you do different?
Probably not have that hair cut I had in the early 80s which I had managed to forget about until my sister dragged out the photos a few weeks ago.
WLN – What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you at work?
Fainting in a Chinese restaurant just as the bill arrived. I had never fainted in my life before and I came round with a large crowd around me. Turns out I was pregnant with my first son but I think there is a less embarrassing way for your body to let you know this.
WLN – Who or what makes you laugh?
If I had to pick one person it would be Eddie Izzard, no matter how many times I listen to his sketch about the cat drilling behind his sofa I still find myself crying with laughter. Terry Wogan used to brighten my morning drive to work as well with his breakfast show – particularly the Janet and John sketches.
WLN – Do you have any hidden talents?
None that I have found so far, but I’m still looking.
WLN – Who would be your favourite party guest?
Vivienne Westwood, she would not only add colour to the party but character as well.
WLN – What is the greatest luxury in your life?
Champagne, I drink far too much of it but keep convincing myself I have earned it.
WLN – What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Anglesey – not very exotic I know but I travel a lot on business so my ideal holiday is a cottage in the middle of nowhere with spectacular views and complete peace and quiet. There is one just around the corner from St. David’s Bay – I won’t share its name or I may not be able to get my preferred two weeks next year!
WLN – Who or what do you detest the most?
Hypocrisy – I have been known to climb on my soap box at inappropriate moments when I hear people talking about how the plan to fix the state school system while sending their own brood to expensive private schools.
WLN – What’s your favourite music album?
At the risk of showing my age I have to admit to it being Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, released in 1973. I have very eclectic music taste but haven’t found a complete album yet that evokes the same emotions when I listen to it as that one. Memories of a mis-spent youth come flooding back each time I hear one of the tracks.
WLN – What your favourite movie?
I could claim something thought provoking and intellectual like The Shawshank Redemption (which I did enjoy) but the reality is the movie I have probably watched most and will watch again no doubt is Sleepless in Seattle.
WLN – What is your favourite book of all time?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
WLN – What’s your favourite pastime?
Food and drink – time spent with friends and family catching up with their lives over a nice glass of wine.
WLN – If you won the Lottery, what would you do?
Buy more champagne! Seriously, we all dream of winning a large sum and giving up work but I have realised over the years that it is work that keeps me sane: I would pay off my mortgage to free up more champagne money, give my three children a chunk each to get them on the property ladder then bank the rest as a retirement fund for the day that work stops being such fun.
WLN – What would be your advice to someone thinking about coming into the industry (apart from “don’t do it”)?
Be prepared for it to be far more interesting and challenging than you ever imagined the world of equipment pooling could be: it gets under your skin. I have a low boredom threshold and despite working for some major multinationals such as Motorola and GM in my career I have worked for CHEP for nearly 10 years and find it the most interesting business model I have ever come across.
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