Meet the Team

Name: Andrew Phillip

Job Role: Product Lead - Quality Management

Length of Service: 2 Months

What attracted you to Muddy Boots?: I come from an agricultural background in the distant past now and have spent the majority of my career in logistics with a period of working within agricultural supply chains. The role with Muddy Boots was very appealing to me as it took me back to my roots. Working with a large plc company for the past 20+ years, managing products from a more supplier and service perspective, gaining the experience of working for a software company helping guide the direction of the product with the support of the organisation interested me greatly. 

Tell us a bit about you and your work history?: I grew up on a farm in the NE of Scotland, getting my hands dirty picking tatties and carting grain off the fields during harvest times in the school holidays mainly. I started my working career in Logistics operations, predominantly in the hazardous chemical & petroleum fuels sector, but also in food distribution. For the past 21 years I worked for a large logistics company, initially starting in Operations, spending time in project management, business development and continuous improvement. From here I transitioned to IT Roles, where for the past 7 years I had the role of an IT Product Manager for a suite of Transport Optimisation systems. I enjoy the outdoors, walking with our dog over the peaks and the occasional challenge of the larger hills or a Munro or two. Completing the challenge is hugely satisfying, along with the view of the green and pleasant land. 

What does your typical working day look like?: There is the routine to start with, the dog needs his morning exercise, it is a constant that helps start the day. Being in my second month with Muddy Boots, the days are quite wide and varied currently. I have spent a lot of time on virtual meetings gaining knowledge from colleagues, getting to know the team, working on formulating our future Quality Management roadmap and finding some of my logistics experience is proving useful. There is still a lot to get into and with restrictions lifting, hopefully a few more face to face sessions to get me out of the home office occasionally. 

What's an interesting fact about you?: I enjoy woodwork and get a lot of satisfaction from the creations, no matter what the results look like. 

Who would be your ideal dinner party guest and why?: This is a tough one as there can be many. As a youngster I was taken to watch Scotland play rugby many times, Andy Irvine was my favourite and would be my choice to hear the interesting and funny stories of the 5 nations as it was then. 

What's your favourite food?: Simple for me really, a good rib of beef and all that comes with it. 

What makes you passionate about food / farming?: My history and having worked in the agricultural and food supply chain from a logistics perspective, I have seen the power that connecting all elements together and sharing the knowledge can bring to all parts of the supply chain. The efficiency this can bring and value that it can unlock can only be a benefit for the future of supply chains which is very motivational.

Any skills or talents that people don’t know about?: When I was younger I was a keen Curler and was fortunate enough to compete in a few European competitions.  

What advice do you wish you’d been given early in your career?: To not assume anything and have the confidence to ask the simple questions, you will gain the experience. 

Finish this sentence: on Sunday mornings you usually find me…… Out walking somewhere whether it be wet, windy or sun shining. 

What’s one item you can’t leave your house or apartment without?: My house keys… the number of times I return and everyone has left and locked the door 

Describe yourself in three words... open-minded, considered, optimistic 

What publications do you regularly read or what book are you reading now?: I currently have 7 volumes of Game of Thrones to work through. Having watched the series it is slow progress.