Meet the team - Steve

It’s been just over a month since you joined Venditan, how are you settling in?

I'm settling in well, thanks for asking. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and there's such a strong sense of collaboration and community here. It's like joining a family where everyone is eager to help and share their knowledge. Plus, the coffee here is amazing, which is always a bonus!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Sure. I've had quite the adventure getting to where I am today. I grew up in Altrincham and then headed off to the University of Leicester. After graduation, I moved to Canada to work as a ski instructor.

From there, I transitioned into the Marine industry, spending 12 incredible years based in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. I returned to the UK in 2016 and have been diving into eCommerce and digital transformation ever since. My varied career path has given me a unique perspective and outlook that I bring to every role, which has helped me succeed.

I'm passionate about building strong teams and love seeing my colleagues excel and flourish. Outside of work, I'm a family man. I run my step-son’s junior football team and enjoy following most sports. Life's always busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

And what about something people may not know about you?

Here's a fun fact that always gets a laugh: I once ran over Hugh Grant's foot while driving a golf buggy during the Abu Dhabi GP. And I swear it was his fault!

As for hobbies, I'm really into football, tennis, skiing, and running—, if it's a sport, I'm interested. And a hidden talent? I can do the splits! It's a great party trick.

What does your average day at Venditan look like?

My day always kicks off with a coffee, courtesy of Kieran—the barista at our WeWork office. It's the perfect way to start the morning! On working practices, I like to have a plan but I'm always ready to pivot if needed. Flexibility is key.

To keep organised, I'm old school. I rely on pen and paper, jotting down as many notes as possible. It's a habit that's become even more useful as I've gotten older! Prioritising my work involves keeping the small jobs from building up and staying consistent. However, the customer always comes first, no matter what.

As a BD professional, I'm a social beast. I prefer being in the office and interacting with the team, but I appreciate the advantages of working from home a couple of days a week—like not having to commute!

What’s the best advice you could give to someone starting in business development?

My top advice would be to listen to people who have been there and done it. Learn from their experiences, and be analytical in finding the best style for you. We're all different, and what works for one person might not work for another.

Stay honest and be patient—time is the best teacher. It might sound a bit deep, but it's true. Success in business development doesn’t happen overnight, so give yourself the grace to learn and grow.

Are there any eCommerce or retail trends that you find particularly interesting?

You’re probably expecting me to say Gen AI, and you'd be right—it’s a hot topic on everyone’s lips these days. I’m looking forward to the day when it doesn’t come up in every conversation!

Another interesting trend is sustainability. I believe that choosing an eCommerce platform with genuine green credentials will become increasingly important for merchants. Simplifying the tech stack to make ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting achievable is also going to be a major focus.

Sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's becoming a key aspect of how businesses operate and how they are perceived by consumers.

What does a typical weekend look like in the life of Steve?

My weekends are all about family time. I spend a lot of it running the kids around to their various sports clubs and activities—it's a bit of a whirlwind, but I love it. When we're not on the go, we enjoy meeting up with friends and unwinding with a nice glass of wine.