What is your favourite holiday destination?
As a family, Turkey has been a firm favourite for the past few years. One of my most memorable recently was the time just my partner and I went to Italy. Whizzing round the Amalfi coast on Vespas was an adventure. We also went on to Rome, Venice and Florence. Fantastic scenery, food and wine. It has all the essential ingredients for a wonderful holiday.
What car do you drive?
I’ve had an Audi e-tron for the past six months. Before that I had a Tesla. The e-tron is big and comfortable, it’s great for family trips, but I do miss some of the extras you get with a Tesla. They understand that people don’t just use a car to get from A to B. They integrate lifestyle gadgets like the iPad and ‘dog-mode’ which was perfect for Joey, our little sausage dog.
How and when did you get into this industry?
I’ve been in the automotive industry for 22 years. I’d worked for a sales director at BT before joining Northgate and it was the sales lifestyle that attracted me rather than the auto side, to be perfectly honest. I saw that the movement towards fleet electrification would become a big opportunity and followed Elmtronics hoping that a sales role would come up. When it did, I jumped at the chance.
Tell us a bit more about Mer UK?
Mer UK is part of Statkraft, which is the largest renewable energy produce in Europe. We provide EV charging solutions for public charging, workplaces and fleets. We’re dedicated to power the shift towards electric mobility in the UK. We’ve got 10 years of experience in EV charging, and a presence across Norway, Sweden, Germany, Austria as well as the UK. We are experts when it comes to helping our customers get the right charging infrastructure for their local communities and businesses, both now and in the future.
What are your industry predictions for the next 12 months?
I think we’ll see an increase in ultra-low emission zones or clean air zones come into effect. We could also see an emergence of market reactive pricing to offset energy volatility. The energy source price at the moment is at an all-time high, so discussions around real-time peak pricing tariff capability in a commercial space would be a step forward. I also think we’ll see the emergence of more commercial vehicle charging hubs, especially for long wheelbase vehicles to charge in public.
What is the strangest or most challenging job you have done?
I trained to become a driving instructor. I saw a few students through their driving tests. Training teenagers was certainly a challenge!
If you had your time again, would you have followed the same career path?
One hundred percent! I would always have been in sales in some industry or other, but I am so pleased I fell into automotive by default and extended this to EV. I have a passion for helping people solve their problems. I love listening to people explaining the challenges they are facing and confidently putting our solution to them as I know it will solve their problems. There’s something very rewarding about helping people, and they know I won’t let them down.
If you could invite four people to a dinner party – living or dead – who would they be – and why?
Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. They have an intriguing story which they’ve documented in songs that they’ve used in a kind of musical battle. I’d love to hear more about how they have managed to channel that romantic turmoil into a long partnership on stage.
Elvis will have to be there. I grew up with Elvis playing in the background on the coach tours my dad used to drive around Austria and Germany.
I’d also love to sit around the table with Marilyn Monroe. She was the epitome of femininity and the feminine form, but there was so much more to her. She was a champion of civil rights and had a strong moral compass.
What are your passions outside the workplace?
My family, my partner and our two children and, of course, Joey. I like to keep fit and healthy. I run regularly and visit the gym. It’s time when I can prioritise myself, for a while anyway. I love to travel and enjoy good food and wine.
If they made a film about your life who would play you?
Audrey Hepburn would be my choice.
Describe yourself in five words?
Loyal. Passionate. Driven. Caring. Inspiring.
