"For Villa fans, it's simple: In Unai We Trust," says Andrew Ward, Drayton’s new Managing Director of Industrial. A lifelong Villa supporter, Ward has been going to matches since childhood.
Surrounded by the framed football shirts that decorate his office, he speaks with genuine passion and enthusiasm about the Villans’ Spanish manager, “Everything Unai Emery touches turns to success. Having sold Morgan Rogers for a record fee I am sure he will find a new prodigy. One that I’ve never heard of who will be even better.”
And that, of course, is what Andrew, himself, does best – identify talent. Whereas some executive search consultants move from sector to sector, he has spent 25 years in specialist industrial. He knows it inside and out. So, what attracted him to Drayton’s new venture?
“After 17 years in the same business, I felt it was very much decision time for me – do I stay in the group for the rest of my career? Or do I move out of my comfort zone and take on a fresh new challenge? And Drayton’s growth story was simply too exciting to ignore,” he says. “But, first and foremost, it was the people here. Like when I spoke with Rob and Ian, Drayton’s founders, it was a natural fit. It felt like a genuine conversation with two people who were super down to earth, open, curious, and passionate about what they’ve built. I left the conversation feeling really inspired and excited about the opportunity to be part of their journey."
Previously, Andrew was a Senior Partner and Head of Industrial & Manufacturing Practice for a major international executive search firm focusing on C-suite, board, and senior leadership roles. He’s energetic, ambitious and has big plans for Drayton Industrial: "Growth will come first through organic expansion and the recruitment of true sector specialists. While our immediate focus is the UK, the international opportunity is significant. The US is a particularly exciting market for industrial recruitment."
And Andrew sees Drayton’s roots in the Consumer Sector as playing a key part in developing Drayton Industrial. “I'd say there are actually a great many cross-sector similarities. Many manufacturing processes are shared across both consumer and industrial products and as a result we are able to share candidates and sector insights. Sometimes from a commercial route to market and industry perspective my industrial clients are looking for direct sector experience; at other times they're looking for a completely fresh perspective. For me, there’s a clear synergy. As an example, I recently worked with a market-leading building products manufacturer who supplied to major distributors. They were keen to explore Sales Director candidates from the Consumer Sector. Targeting someone who could transplant their specific consumer category management experience into their business and that person has proved to be a huge success.”
In his spare time, Andrew enjoys listening to business podcasts. “I'm always looking for inspiration from people with extraordinary stories,” says Andrew. “I’m fascinated by what makes people tick, what drives them to be their very best.”
Andrew is clearly a people person. Fundamentally, I sense, that’s a big part of how he measures his own success. “With a consultative approach,” he says, “I judge myself by the longevity and career progression of the candidates I introduce. How the people I place thrive and excel.”
A proud family man, with two young children, Drayton Industrial’s MD has just started taking his daughter to Villa Park. "What I remember most, as a child, is the sheer size of the ground, the atmosphere and the excitement. I love seeing her experience those same feelings that I had growing up."