Garry is a graduate in Applied Chemistry from the University of Hertfordshire. But following a number of research roles in the fields of pharmaceuticals, water quality and food analysis he joined Mars, Incorporated where his career switched to procurement and supply chain management. This resulted, in 1992, to him leading the European buying teams of Mars for transportation and warehousing. During this period, he led the development of online purchasing in Mars which resulted in him, in 1999, becoming the Unit General Manager of the start-up business Freight Traders. After its successful growth to become one of the largest online freight exchanges in Europe, in 2006 he left to become a significant shareholder, a de facto founder, and CEO of Trade Extensions, a Swedish start-up that was creating the market for sourcing optimisation.
Under his guidance Trade Extensions led the way in developing the market for advanced sourcing software. Providing software to the world's largest companies including P&G, IKEA, Walmart, Unilever, Mars, Diageo and BP amongst many others. In 2017 he initiated and led the sale of Trade Extensions to Coupa Software, a Silicon Valley 'unicorn' in a multi-million-dollar deal.
Since, he has been working as a non-executive director, board advisor, public speaker, author and investor in several start-up and medium sized businesses in fields as diverse as animal food supplements, digital marketing, health and artificial intelligence.
His first book, 'Simplify to Succeed' was published in 2022 by Brown Dog Books. It is a distillation of his forty years' experience in industry and is aimed at fellow entrepreneurs and early-stage growth companies.
He now focuses on entrepreneurship and helping others build and grow their own businesses. He is especially interested in developing younger entrepreneurs and helping them become successful using rapid decision making and problem-solving techniques.
A Chartered Fellow and Global Board member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), he is an Ambassador and Vice Chairman for the Institute of Directors (IOD) in the East of England and is also the former President of both the British and the European Shippers councils.
