A highly experienced innovator in business development, Andy is a forward-thinking business executive with an international board level background in the retail, entertainment and professional services industries. Well-known for being an effective change catalyst, Andy is experienced in proposing and implementing change where change is needed. He’s a commercial negotiation specialist across the private sector, in business start-ups and with government.

Andy is a creative, ideas-focused leader who keeps his sense of humour in excellent shape. He is widely recognised for unlocking the full potential of organisations, with proven expertise in revenues and profitability growth in fast-moving environments.

He has an enviable track record of achieving steep increases in sales, profitability and identifying new business opportunities by engaging the knowledge, creativity, energy and commitment of staff and colleagues at all levels.

Where it began
Andy spent the first 18 years of his career at Tower Records in the UK, where he worked his way through the ranks, from front-line sales assistant to Chief Executive Officer in just nine years.

While at Tower, Andy oversaw integrated market-facing functions, such as creating micro stores in prime locations, which were rolled out in the UK, Israel, Japan and Mexico with a premium yield offer – an innovative retail expansion strategy in timely response to an economic shift. Through his strong leadership, he diversified the company’s revenue streams, while continuing to implement strategies that underpinned the company’s core business.

The Retail and e-commerce aspects of business are an area of special interest. Recognised as an early adopter, Andy introduced the UK’s first entertainment transactional website in 1996, providing in-store Tower Express customers with direct access to the full Tower catalogue online.

Andy is an excellent motivator and believes in understanding and harnessing the power of staff to successfully transform any business. Under his leadership, Tower Records experienced rapid success, achieving revenue growth of more than 50 per cent, attaining more than £50m in sales in four countries with 500+ staff. Andy also developed a UK-based export division extending to 187 locations in 17 countries with 23 per cent group savings.

Sitting on Tower’s international management board, many of the development and growth initiatives Andy created were deployed to the benefit of other divisions worldwide. Having developed Tower Records into a market leader, Andy went on to negotiate a successful sale of the company to Virgin in 2003.

On the move
After his shift to our sunnier shores, Andy has been a key member of the leadership team at the Sydney Opera House. Here he conceived and executed a series of key commercial development strategies, generating new and incremental revenue streams driving continual growth. These included the reinvigoration and redevelopment of the retail precinct engineering as a competitive process, which delivered enhanced customer experiences and gave stronger financial stability to the iconic institution.

Andy established the commercial licensing business model, working with leading international organisations such as Google, YouTube, Harpo (Oprah), Universal Pictures, National Geographic, Lego and Mattel, and major performers including Bryan Adams, Jason Mraz, Simply Red, and the Pussycat Dolls.

Andy is also co-owner of 'Everything Begins', a worldwide Internet store that brings together fresh, interesting artwork and design objects made by independent and emerging artists, designers and makers from around the globe.

Everything Begins has met with commercial and critical success, already transacting with customers in 17 countries and is continually featured and highly acclaimed in the world’s leading home and design publications and blogs.