In this episode we speak to Dr. Philo Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of LPA Group, a company who designs and manufactures specialised electrical equipment for rail, aviation, and aerospace & defence. Philo reflects on joining a well-invested but underperforming business and the strategic choices she has made to turn it around.
Philo shares how she reorganised LPA from four quasi-independent sites into a single functional structure, and how that structure is working now. She describes how a major rebranding is helping the new culture and structure stick with her workers and beyond. She also discusses the costs and benefits of being a vertically integrated business – manufacturing components in-house rather than offshore.
The conversation also explores LPA’s pivot towards defence and sovereign supply chain customers, Philo’s thoughts on leading an organisation for the first time, and why she believes engineering businesses like LPA have both a social and strategic duty to invest in STEM outreach and apprenticeships.
Listen here and on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Supported by Norman Broadbent.
Many thanks to Norman Broadbent’s John Begley for the introduction to Philo, so that we could have this insightful conversation!
Philo Daniel