National account director, Noble Foods, on free samples, ‘posh’ coffee and Hugh Jackman

What was your first-ever job? Collecting glasses in a wine bar in the middle of Wakefield on a Friday night. Looking back, I can’t believe my parents let me do it!

What’s been your worst job interview? That’s an easy one - at an assessment centre for a firm of stockbrokers. An endless two days of humiliation, culminating in each of us having to stand on a bar stool and give a rendition of our favourite ‘song from a show’. Character building, I suppose!

What was the first music single you bought? Gett Off by Prince.

How do you describe your job to your mates? Unexpected! I never thought the egg industry could be this much fun, this varied, this exhilarating or enable you to get so close to customers and consumers.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Working with a really fantastic team.

What is the least rewarding part? Having previously worked for a confectionery brand, the free samples here are a bit dull, though a whole lot healthier!

What is your motto in life? ‘Only you can stop yourself.’

Do you have any phobias? Anything that buzzes or stings: eeek!

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? Less complexity and a more cross-functional team approach to enable quicker decision-making.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? ‘Posh’ coffee for sure - I can’t function without a fair few gallons each day and instant coffee really doesn’t count.

What animal most reflects your personality? An Arctic fox - still a fox but a bit Northern.

What’s your favourite film and why? I went to see Titanic three times at the cinema when it came out. Sad, I know, but thankfully I’m over it now.

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Once I headed off to a meeting having tried two pairs of shoes on at home: 40 minutes down the road I stopped for fuel only to realise I still had one from each pair on.

Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Hugh Jackman - not sure he’d do that good at job at Noble Foods, but then I wouldn’t be employing him for his industry experience.

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