ANDREW GARDNER
Barnt Green,Birmingham
Summary
Established Cruise.co.uk Ltd in 1984, driving growth to £120M turnover with 180 staff through strategic planning and innovative market engagement. Spearheaded successful sale to Carnival Corporation in 2002 before a Management Buy back in 2006. Sold to Bridgepoint Capital for £52m in 2016, optimising business operations and stakeholder relationships. Fostered high-performing teams, facilitating seamless leadership transitions and providing strategic guidance as Non-Executive Chairman in various sectors.
Visionary executive with progressive Travel Industry background and record of accomplishment. Brings focus on growth, confidence in decision-making and expertise in leading organisations through periods of change and development. Articulate and driven with top strengths in relationship-building, planning and operational problem-solving.
Overview
51
51
years of professional experience
Work History
Non Executive Chairman
Bluebay Travel Group
Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
02.2017 - Current
- Chairman of a Long Haul Travel Operator with LDC as the main investor
Non Executive Chairman
Phynova Group
London, London
08.2017 - 05.2023
- Chairman of a Global Pharma company. Saw the company throgh a major change replacing the Founder with a new CEO and management team.
Founder
Cruise.co.uk/Victoria Travel Service Ltd
Birmingham, Worcestershire
08.1984 - 08.2016
- In 1984 I set up Victoria Travel Service Ltd, which was an ABTA travel agency in the upmarket Village of Barnt Green Worcestershire.
- We decided to specialise in Cruising and within 4 years we were working with over 65 Regional and National News media with cruise products all over the world. We were one of the first operators to Pioneer Disney and Caribbean Cruise Holidays.
- At the start of the 1990’s our cruise groups were becoming so large that we decided to charter entire Cruise ships - and in the following 12 years we would charter in excess of 50 Cruises.
- Due to our size and Media connections within the UK we became well Known across the global Industry and we were soon appointed as General Sales agents in the UK for several US cruise companies including Renaissance Cruises. . In 2001 I also set up a Cruise Franchise business called GoCruise which we grew to 50 Franchisees before selling to Fred Olsen Travel in 2005.
- In 2002 in addition to being the main Cruise agency in the UK we were also the number 1 agent for Cunard in Europe and I sold the business to their parent company Carnival Corporation . However, after a change of management Strategy in 2006 Carnival Corp decided to sell the business and I completed a management buy back with the private equity firm Forward Group.
- In 2013 we agreed a refinancing deal with Luke Johnson and his Risk Capital Partners to replace Forward Group and then embarked on a 3-year plan to double sales turnover from £60m to £120M and expand the company into the International market. This we did successfully and in August 2016 the Company was sold to Bridgepoint Capital for £52m. I decided the time was right for me to leave the business and look for a new Challenge.
Tenant
Bass M&B Hotel
Bromsgrove
01.1980 - 01.1992
- After my marriage to Mary in 1979 we took a leasehold tenancy on a small Hotel in Bromsgrove which was part of the Bass M&B group. We grew the turnover to over £600K with EBITDA in excess of £100K.
Investor and Non-Exec Director
Riva Holidays and Riva Airtours
01.1982 - 01.1984
- I became an investor and non-exec director of Riva Holidays and Riva Airtours which specialised in flights and holidays to Malta and Majorca.
Outside Catering Company (Partner/Operator)
Malvern Hills Hotel group
01.1978 - 01.1980
Hotel Manager
Malvern Hills Hotel
BARNT GREEN, Worcestershire
01.1976 - 01.1978
Education
MSC course - Management Science and Operations Research
Imperial College
01-1976
BSc Combined Science Degree - Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy and Economics
Leicester University
01-1975
Skills
- Strategic planning
- P&L Financial forecasting and EBITDA/value creation
- Negotiation skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- M&A/PE Experience and Board Influence
- International expansion
- Team leadership and motivation CEO/Founder succession planning
- Highly effective Executive with 40 plus years of experience, skilled in leadership and communication skills Passionate to improve workflows and implement automation processes across departments to minimise errors and reduce manual tasks Successfully led large, multi-faceted teams, implementing strategies and business plans
Interests
- I enjoy watching and playing all sport and travelling to new and exciting destinations.
Timeline
Non Executive Chairman
Phynova Group
08.2017 - 05.2023
Non Executive Chairman
Bluebay Travel Group
02.2017 - Current
Founder
Cruise.co.uk/Victoria Travel Service Ltd
08.1984 - 08.2016
Investor and Non-Exec Director
Riva Holidays and Riva Airtours
01.1982 - 01.1984
Tenant
Bass M&B Hotel
01.1980 - 01.1992
Outside Catering Company (Partner/Operator)
Malvern Hills Hotel group
01.1978 - 01.1980
Hotel Manager
Malvern Hills Hotel
01.1976 - 01.1978
MSC course - Management Science and Operations Research
Imperial College
BSc Combined Science Degree - Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy and Economics
Leicester University