Who We Are

Steve has over 25 years' experience (well over!!) in supply chain management – spanning Network Strategy, Inventory Optimisation, Demand Management and Production Schedule Optimisation. Steve has been an advisor at Board and SVP level to Pepsico, Pernod Ricard, Nestle, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Reckitt Benckiser, Tesco, Sainsbury, Argos and others.

Steve has been an acclaimed speaker at Supply Chain conferences and to Corporate Functions across Europe – And has been involved in the training and development of more than 2,000 young (And not so young) supply chain managers.

He read Electronic Engineering at Southampton and then joined Unilever for 10 years as a Systems Engineer. Moving to Coopers & Lybrand in 1986, he built and lead a Consumer Goods group focused on Supply Chain Management, before founding Sequoia In 1992.

"Father of two grown up daughters (an Engineer and a Teacher) - my latest project (jointly with my fabulous new wife) is to start a second family after a 30 year interval! As a business owning obsessive and father of a young son - life is pretty demanding, but fulfilling. Retirement is firmly off of the agenda – way too much to enjoy!"

Sarah co-founded Sequoia in 1992 with Steve. Since then she has been involved in leading and delivering complex Supply Chain projects that span the 4 areas of Sequoia's Capability Building offering: Structure, Processes, Tools and People. Sarah’s passion is to embed the skills that enable and empower Supply Chain professionals to make a real difference to their business.

Clients include some of the FMCG industry's leading companies, along with global pharmaceutical businesses and companies from other sectors who have sought to benefit from Sequoia’s strong Supply Chain insights and tailored solutions. They include Pernod Ricard, GSK, Reckitt Benckiser, Sandoz, Unilever, PepsiCo, Kimberly-Clark, Wimm Bill Dann, Dyson and Electrolux.

Sarah’s focus is on both technical, data-driven Supply Chain understanding and the interpersonal skills needed to ensure that a Supply Chain team are able to deliver on one of their fundamental roles – that of effective cross functional communication.

Sarah is an accredited Master Practitioner of Management Drives – an approach which gives insight into individual And team behaviours, giving practical support in improving communication skills And the understanding of colleagues.

Sarah studied Manufacturing Engineering at Brunel University.

"I enjoy finding innovative and inspiring ways of empowering individuals in their Supply Chain role – whether that is a technical aspect or a new approach to team interaction. Outside of work my focus is family life and running. Pandemic lockdowns really brought home the benefits a run can bring to body, mind and soul and I now notice it when I don't get out. I also enjoy expanding my baking repertoire and I am still trying to become a better gardener – more by trial and error than anything else!"

Erika has worked on Supply Chain Design projects for many clients including Unilever, Nestle And Danone. The combination of working on optimisation projects, and practical hands-on experience working within clients, have proved invaluable and given credibility To the supply chain training courses that she has built and run around the Globe.

She has extensive experience of manufacturing strategy work, creating numerous factory cost models and running the financial evaluation and risk analysis of projects For major multi-nationals in the UK, Europe And South-America.

Erika read Aero-Mechanical Systems Engineering at Cranfield University and then joined Sequoia in 1995 as a Graduate Trainee.

"I currently strike a happy medium between staring at numbers on a computer screen and being mum to two young children. Just in case that doesn't keep me busy enough (or maybe it’s because I need the peace and quiet), I am rediscovering the joys of road cycling and can be found burning up the miles in some part of the Cotswolds whenever I get the chance to escape!"

Helen joined Sequoia in 2001 as a Graduate Trainee after studying Mechanical Engineering at The University of Birmingham.

Her early career at Sequoia mainly focused on the development of computer models. To represent and optimise the loading of factories and production lines, with models for clients such as Unilever, Nestle And St Regis Paper.

Since 2012 Helen has designed and created OnTarget, a product of her consulting background and technical expertise. OnTarget was created in close collaboration with several clients ensuring that the functionality meets real world needs and continues to take up much of her time!

"When not at work my life is run by Reading Hockey Club where, I can usually be found wielding a stick. There are also occasions when I have been seen diving in the Red Sea or off the coast of Australia."

Matt worked for Sequoia during the summer in 2009 and was involved in the data analysis of the raw ingredients and recipes to make the finished goods for a chilled foods factory.

The following year he graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Masters in Civil and Structural Engineering. To mark this achievement, he grabbed a back-pack and, using the InterRail network, travelled through much of Europe over nine weeks.

In 2012 Matt returned to Sequoia, in a permanent position, to expand the capability of the Tools Department – a world of databases, data manipulation and interactive websites. By combining knowledge on a wide variety of web technologies, supply chain experience and a creative mind, he has the ability to design, develop and deliver suitable solutions tailored to individual clients' requirements.

The continuing evolution of OnTarget, Sequoia's online stock inventory management module, is Matt’s main focus. As the developer of the wizard-like data import process and also responsible for the hosting and maintenance, for a number of client implementations, he is kept busy.

Other than OnTarget, past assignments include the creation of Sequoia's online training portal, development of an interactive forecasting training exercise using the Kinect for Windows Framework and building a simulation to track intake and sales stock movements through a warehouse.

"During my free time I like spending it outdoors, exploring new places. Weather permitting, I enjoy cycling in the Peak District and while the hills are a challenge, they're worth it for the views."

Andy joined Sequoia in 2017 as a Graduate Consultant after completing a Masters degree in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Bath.

He has experience in the construction industry from industrial placements while at university, and is excited to apply some of the skills he has learned to new and different challenges in Supply Chain. His work so far has involved getting to grips with the intricacies of inventory calculations in a complex medical supplies business and honing his macro skills on excel.

"I love singing, particularly a cappella – an art form I really grew into during my time at university, and I currently sing in a barbershop quartet and a small contemporary a cappella group in London. I also keep active playing rugby at the weekends. Travelling around Asia after university gave me the bug and I'm excited for the next adventure, hopefully South America or New Zealand."

Peter has spent over 25 years working for the Coca-Cola bottler for North-West Europe (from Coca-Cola Schweppes to Coca-Cola European Partners) in variety of senior manufacturing and logistics positions. Key roles at a GB level were Logistics Director then VP Supply Chain, responsible for all SC functions. Then for NW Europe, he was VP Logistics responsible for customer services, planning, warehousing and transport. Within these roles he lead the strategic analysis and plans for the supply chain infrastructure.

Prior to that he was a Logistics consultant for Coopers & Lybrand for five years across Europe, specialising in manufacturing and distribution network analysis and inventory management modelling.

He read Engineering at Cambridge University followed by an industry based postgraduate course in Production Management.

"With my two children now at University, my wife and I are planning to spend more time travelling. I play squash regularly and I am a Manchester City season ticket holder once more, at just the right time."

Sally has been part of the Sequoia family since 1993 and has been involved in assignments across the full range of Sequoia services.

She is most experienced with supply chain optimisation projects and uses an approach which is systematic and data driven. Her recommendations are backed up with robust and detailed analysis. A self-starter who enjoys collaborative team environments And develops Long term client relationships.

Sally graduated in Engineering from Cambridge University and is currently based out of Toronto, Canada.

"I love to use spreadsheets to find numerical solutions to complex supply chain problems. Competitive by nature, I spend my spare time playing squash and travelling to see my tennis-playing children."

Dave joined Sequoia in 1998 as a graduate trainee and built-up extensive consulting experience in supply chain strategy and operational optimisation, combining Blue Sky strategic thinking with an eye for operational detail.

His strategic experience comes from defining the optimal supply chain strategy for numerous manufacturers & retailers, trading off distribution costs with site scale economies and inventory costs to define the optimal number and location of facilities.

On the operational optimisation side, Dave has conducted numerous SKU level optimisations of supply planning parameters such as production batch sizes and inventory targets.

After 18 years with Sequoia, Dave left to broaden his experience with an in-house strategic role for Ball Packaging before taking on the role of Head of Logistics with responsibility for freight, warehousing and packaging across Europe.

Dave returned to Sequoia as an associate in 2020.

He studied Manufacturing Engineering and Management at Nottingham University and also has a Master’s degree in Environmental Economics from the University of London.

"When not ferrying our 2 boys between various activities, I can be found playing/coaching/watching cricket, trying to get fit for the next biking adventure or tackling the latest DIY/garden project."

Another industry veteran with over 20 years spent in Chief Supply Chain Officer roles for Booker, Sainsbury's, and most recently, globally for Primark. That substantial operating experience has been interspersed with periods in consulting, starting back in 1986 at Coopers & Lybrand following logistics roles at Unilever and HJ Heinz.

He has been a board member of several industry bodies including Efficient Consumer Response UK (ECR), ECR Europe, and the Freight Transport Association. he is a regular conference speaker and chair.

"Spare time now sadly sees me watching more sport than playing, in particular I have a season ticket for Watford FC. I am also an avid traveller and photographer, trying to use many years of accumulated airmiles before they expire!"

Anna graduated from university in the beautiful city of Kazan in Russia. After studying for her PhD in English Literature, she worked as assistant professor at the university. She met Sequoia when she was working as an English translator for a Russian Diary company, in Moscow. This partnership was very successful and Anna moved over to the UK in 2014 in order to work full time for Sequoia as a translator.

She has returned to Sequoia after her maternity leave on a part time basis. This gives her time to look after her beautiful baby boy Reggie and pursue her other passion – studying!

"In my spare time (of which there isn't a lot!), I enjoy going to the theatre and galleries, spending time with family, walking and cooking."