Meet The Team: Andrew Gardner, Chief Commercial Officer

How well do you know our team and what they can do to support you or your organisation? Our latest hire, Andy Gardner, comes with an impressive background in recruitment and is a fantastic addition to our internal team. Find out more about Andy, his role at Cummins Mellor, and what keeps him busy outside of work.

What’s your name and role within the business?

Andrew Gardner - Chief Commercial Officer.

hOW LONG have you worked here?

Three months.

Have you had any interesting jobs in the past?

Hmm, I have washed pots, waited on, crushed cars and processed scrap metal (family business) and been a tester for Jack Daniels (alcopops) at university.

What do you like doing outside of work?

Apart from spending time with my family I love running, I'm a member of my local running club and I've ran (and paced) 27 marathons in the UK, Europe and USA.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

Developing people. I'm relatively new here but in my years in recruitment I get an incredible sense of pride and satisfaction watching people grow and develop.

What's one skill you're working on at the moment?

Hmmm, taking more risks, calculated risks obviously.

What helps you to work at your best?

Autonomy underpinned by support from those around me, I work much better in a group.

What have you done for the first time this year?

Had cryo therapy, -124 degrees....very, very cold.

What's the last thing you watched or read - and loved?

I read Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson, a fantastic insight into DISC profiling and insights and how different personality types interact in and out of work.

What's something people might not know about working here?

That it's a second generation family business and the founders still spend time in the business supporting the teams.

If you could click your fingers and become an expert in anything, what would you choose?

Languages, Spanish in particular.

What three words would your friends or colleagues use to describe you?

Friendly, passionate and loyal.

What topic (work-related or otherwise) could you give a presentation on without any preparation? 

Running (and Sheffield Wednesday).

If you could swap places with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be and why?

Beth [Massaro, Candidate Manager], because I'd love to know how to spin that many plates without ever dropping one and how to be that organised and unflappable.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

I have no idea, anyone with a shaved head, not the Rock though, someone smaller.

What's your favourite food?

Chinese, blessed to have the best Cantonese restaurant ever less than a mile from my house.

What are you excited about in your job?

The potential, of the people and the business, the sky is the limit.

What’s a mistake you've made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

I once hired someone to open a new location (as I'd set a date we'd open the office by). Deep down I probably knew they weren't right and sadly 6 months later we parted ways. It was 15 years ago but it is in my mind every time I interview someone. Sorry, if you read this…

What's your favourite way to spend a weekend?

With my family, maybe a meal out and a nice family walk.

What’s a work-related achievement you’re really proud of?

There are a few over the years in terms of numbers etc but the two that mean the most are that people I've encountered years ago will still drop me the odd message to ask for advice or help and the founder of my previous employer thanked me when I left.

Speak to Andy and the team about finding or filling your next role

Andy works closely with the team here at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, playing a pivotal role in our ambitious growth plans and how we support both candidates and clients.

If you’d like support hiring better for your business’s long-term success, get in touch with Andy via email here.