From Sport to Strategy
Hi, I’m Andrew and I’ve recently joined Hillsgreen as Client Success Manager.
I’ve spent the last 14 years in client-facing roles, both agency-side and in-house, working across digital campaigns, e-commerce and SaaS.
Early in my career, I worked on kit and fashion shoots with sports teams including Manchester City, Manchester United, England Rugby and Wimbledon.
The athletes were always busy, the windows were short, and you had one chance to get everything you needed. Going in without a clear plan meant leaving with gaps.
It also taught me that being thorough and being overbearing are two very different things. The goal was always to get great results without making the experience difficult for the people you were working with.
That’s a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my career.
A Career Built Around Clients
From there, I moved into agency account management before working in digital transformation at the Co-op.
I also founded my own AI-focused studio before most recently managing the e-commerce operation at Federal Café & Bar.
Each role gave me a different perspective, but one thing stayed the same: I enjoy building relationships, solving problems and helping businesses achieve their goals.
Why Hillsgreen?
The interview process was actually one of the reasons I decided to join Hillsgreen.
It was honest, direct and refreshingly open. Nobody tried to oversell the role. Instead, I got a genuine understanding of the team, the business and what the job would involve.
That honesty made it much easier to know I was making the right decision.
Discovering Agriculture
Hillsgreen is my first role within the agricultural sector, and I’ll admit the learning curve has been steeper than I expected.
One thing that struck me very quickly is how much timing matters. Missing a campaign window doesn’t simply delay marketing activity. It can have a direct impact on their business.
I’ve also been genuinely surprised by how innovative agriculture is. There’s an incredible amount of technology and forward thinking happening across the industry that many people outside the sector never get to see.
What Client Success Means to Me
Day to day, I’ll be the main point of contact for many of our clients.
For me, client success is exactly what it sounds like: putting the client’s success at the centre of everything we do.
It’s about much more than delivering campaigns on time. It’s about understanding each client’s wider business, their ambitions and what success genuinely looks like for them.
Running my own business taught me what it’s like when every decision directly affects your own pocket. That perspective is something I bring into every client relationship.
Outside of Work
I grew up in South Africa before moving to the Lake District with my family, so adapting to somewhere new has always come naturally.
Outside work, I’m a father of two boys, which keeps me busy for most of the weekend.
I’m also a lifelong Manchester City supporter (my sons didn’t get much choice in that!) and spend any spare time gaming or experimenting with AI tools, which often ends up helping me in my day job too.
One fact I probably mention too often? I was at the Etihad when Sergio Agüero scored that goal to win the Premier League. A few days later, I got the chance to play on the same pitch and even scored into the very same net.
I still get goosebumps thinking about it.
Looking Ahead
Joining Hillsgreen has been an exciting new challenge.
I’m looking forward to continuing my journey in agriculture, getting to know our clients and helping them achieve the results that matter most to their businesses.
I’m excited to see what the future holds.

