Hi, I’m
Phillippa Swinden
Bedfordshire,UK
Summary
Results-driven District Manager with focus on optimising operations and leading high-performing teams. Skilled in driving sales growth, improving customer satisfaction, and streamlining processes. Delivered significant improvements in team productivity and operational efficiency in previous roles, directly contributing to enhanced profitability and brand loyalty.
Overview
24
years of professional experience
Work history
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Biosciences Division
Senior District Manager – UK South
2026.01 - Current (5 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Lead a dynamic team of 10 experienced Sales Managers across Cambridge and London, covering Academia, Biotech and Pharma.
- Improved district performance by implementing strategic plans and policies.
- Devised promotional strategies for increased customer engagement.
- Travelled across the district to oversee store operations.
- Developed training programmes for staff skill enhancement.
- Fostered team collaboration, resulting in improved customer service.
- Responsible for $100 million region
- Mentored new hires to foster talent retention.
- Conducted periodic performance reviews of subordinates, providing constructive feedback.
- Identified opportunities for growth within the district market.
- Launched employee recognition schemes which boosted morale and productivity.
- Achieved sales targets through effective team management.
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Biosciences Division
Senior District Manager – UK, Ireland & Nordics Biotech and Pharma
2021.01 - 2025.01 (4 education.years_Label)
Job overview
- Leading a team of 8 successful business development managers specialising in the Biotech and Pharma segment.
- 4 years Sales Master (7 years achieving/exceeding plan).
- Growth targets met and exceeded all years except 2024: 2021 = 10%, 2022 = 20%, 2023 = 12.5%, 2024 =12%, 2025=6%
- Responsible for $70 million region across UK, Ireland and Nordics.
- Mentoring of fellow District Managers, helping them to navigate any topic whereby they need support
- Responsible for delivering accurate forecasts to Senior leadership and demonstrating a control of the business
- Driving innovative and realistic growth strategies and execution within the team.
- Strong communication across all levels.
- Active networking within Biotech and Pharma sector, establishing relationships with Real estate property providers through to CEOs of Biotech Associations.
- Strong Industry network from lab technicians to CEOs.
- Regular attendance at Biotech and Pharma Conferences to ensure knowledge is current and helps to shape forward thinking strategy
- Delivered webinars to start-up Biotechs.
- Managed events and expenses.
- Focused on team personal development. 4 of team members during my tenure have been promoted to DM and one to Global SRM role.
- Set team quotas and territory alignment.
- Built strong business cases for headcount growth. YOY (between 2021 and 2024) my team has grown by one extra headcount following my proposals.
- Approve and monitor discounted quotes.
- Regular use of various sales dashboards and CRM databases to review sales pipeline and build messaging to team to correct and/or drive performance Work cross-functionally with internal teams.
- Work closely with internal customers: Customer Service, Finance, Credit Control, HR, ESG, Marketing nurturing connections to aid with swift removal of barriers when needed
- Led and orchestrated the monthly EMEA Biotech Call that hosts around 150 Biotech sales professionals across the region in 2024.
- Led Biotech initiative across EMEA organization. Bringing a team of peers and leaders together to drive overall strategy for our business unit in 2024
- Achieved DM kicker bonus payments YOY which are paid out only should 80% or more of your team hit plan
- Led Cancer Champions program across EMEA in 2021. This is a pan European team comprised of sales individuals from varying aspects of the business, brought together to form a focused strategy that is then rolled out to wider organisation
Thermo Fisher Scientific
District Manager – UK South
2017.04 - 2019.12 (2 education.years_Label & 8 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Responsible for 8 sales professionals in the South UK
- Dealt effectively with challenging individuals through performance improvement plans and misconduct hearings
- Aided fellow District Managers with hiring and performance improvement
- Responsible for region worth 60 million USD
- Delivered AOT growth expectation of 4% and finished above every year by 2-7%
Thermo Fisher Scientific
District Manager – UK North
2015.04 - 2016.07 (1 education.year_Label & 3 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Responsible for a team of 8 sales professionals covering all manner of accounts from Cambridge to North of UK including Scotland and NI.
- Finished 107% to plan in first year.
- Delivered accurate and meaningful forecasts monthly to senior leadership team
- Coached team and built internal networks.
- Experience leading change and effective communication during transitional periods
- Organised quarterly team sales meetings to discuss business plans and strategies based on sales revenue and market intelligence
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Senior Biosciences Account Manager
2013.04 - 2015.04 (2 education.years_Label)
Job overview
- Managed ~$6M territory.
- Reversed decline and delivered growth.
- Mentored team members.
- Built projects exceeding $50k.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Technical Sales Specialist – Molecular Biology
2007.01 - 2013.03 (6 education.years_Label & 2 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Awarded 100% Club trophy (2011).
- Mentored new starters.
- Executed key account plans.
- Worked cross-division to drive sales.
Anachem Ltd
Senior Sales Specialist
2002.01 - 2006.01 (4 education.years_Label)
Job overview
- Won salesperson of the year in first year.
- Managed Cambridgeshire territory.
- Built relationships across customer tiers.
Education
University of Leicester
B.A. from French and Italian
Luton Sixth Form College
A Levels from Human Biology, French and German
Skills
- Process improvement leadership
- Performance metrics evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Pricing strategies mastery
- Strategic account management
- Business development
- Staff training and development
- Customer relationship management
- Delegating tasks
- Operational risk management
- Multi-tasking
- Data-driven decision-making
- Talent development
- Staff motivation
- Effective decision making
- Employee management
- Market expansion strategy
- Salesforce CRM
References
Available upon request.
Interests
Family time, Strength Training and Yoga, Long Walks with my Dog.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior District Manager – UK South
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Biosciences Division
2026.01 - Current (5 education.months_Label)
Senior District Manager – UK, Ireland & Nordics Biotech and Pharma
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Biosciences Division
2021.01 - 2025.01 (4 education.years_Label)
District Manager – UK South
Thermo Fisher Scientific
2017.04 - 2019.12 (2 education.years_Label & 8 education.months_Label)
District Manager – UK North
Thermo Fisher Scientific
2015.04 - 2016.07 (1 education.year_Label & 3 education.months_Label)
Senior Biosciences Account Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
2013.04 - 2015.04 (2 education.years_Label)
Technical Sales Specialist – Molecular Biology
Thermo Fisher Scientific
2007.01 - 2013.03 (6 education.years_Label & 2 education.months_Label)
Senior Sales Specialist
Anachem Ltd
2002.01 - 2006.01 (4 education.years_Label)
Luton Sixth Form College
A Levels from Human Biology, French and German
University of Leicester
B.A. from French and Italian