Andrew De Groot of Action Coach Exeter is passionate about business. He has excelled in various senior management roles internationally and now lives in Devon where he aims to empower local businesses of all sizes. In fact, Andrew promises guaranteed growth if you follow his dynamic plan of action. Exeter-based business journalist, Al Gibson spoke to him about his life, career, and dream to take at least 25 people on a millionaire journey.
Al: From London to Hong Kong, New York etc, you have worked across the globe, now you are based in Budleigh. From Chartered Accountant to top banking executive, you are now MD of Action Coach Exeter. How did this come about?
Andrew De Groot: I guess it all stems from my passion for business! That is what led me into accountancy in the first place. Born in London, I lived in and around Clapham and Wimbledon for much of my life, before moving to Hong Kong to work with Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest). I was there for four years before moving to HSBC where I was COO and became Global Head of Markets Operations. This meant managing about 3,000 people in 40 different countries and overseeing international investments. Today I run an Action Coach franchise for the Southwest, which assists entrepreneurs and business owners to succeed.
Al: So, you know the pressure of a high-ranking position, managing large teams and juggling continents?
Andrew De Groot: Yes, there was always lots of travel, from HK to the UK and back as well as some 21 other countries, but I did enjoy it. I prefer working with individuals face to face, so I spent a lot of time on a plane. I also love working with teams and was constantly going to HSBC sites around the world, basically harnessing 3000 people into one mission.
It also meant learning Chinese and I managed to get to 1000 words at one point! We were very much a Chinese team, but at the same time I had to visit HSBC’s larger centres, including the USA, Malaysia, India, the Philippines and of course I loved going to New York. But I also went to smaller offices as well, like Turkey and Brazil.
It was fantastic being part of developing global talent. Often, I’d discover hidden treasures, people doing a great job, and assist them in their career path, sometimes helping them move countries. By the time I left, I had travelled to half of the 40 countries I was responsible for, which was quite an achievement!
Al: That’s not the kind of job you leave?
Andrew De Groot: No, it’s not but COVID changed everything. And opportunity changes things too. I felt I was still growing in my job, but like many others in recent years, I was faced with redundancy. My department was merged with other departments and I didn’t get the leadership role.
But the good news was, that I still got the opportunity to stay or go. If I’d stayed, I realised most of my job would have been overseeing cost reduction exercises. Whilst I could have done that, and achieved it with sensitivity, I realised I was ready to do something new. I would have stopped growing and in my mind when that happens it’s time to move on.
Like many other families during Lockdown, my wife Charlotte and I and our children grew much closer, with me able to be more present in our home and I wanted to continue that, rather than being off on a plane and apart so frequently. So, after eight years at HSBC, I seized the opportunity to grow in a different direction.
Leaving HSBC, I felt I’d done my time in investment banking and been successful. It was a bit like a game of Snakes and Ladders. I’d started at zero, rolled the dice, went up ladders and escaped downward spirals and I had completed the board. It was time to find a new game, a new challenge.
Al: And you found it here in Devon?
Andrew De Groot: Yes! We would come down to Devon on holiday each year, so I knew every beach, every ice cream parlour etc. The reason is that my in-laws live in Exmouth. We wanted to be close to them but there weren’t that many homes available during the pandemic. Nevertheless, we found an ideal property in Budleigh Salterton in 2021, a large site with ample space to live, work and share with others. The perfect base where I can give back to the business world by sharing all I’ve learned over the years.
When we relocated, I didn’t just rest on my laurels and say, “I’ve got all this experience, what am I going to do with it?” I immediately started the process of applying for an Action Coach Franchise. Why? Because Action Coach is the largest business coaching organisation in the world!
So, Charlotte and I are very pleased to be here. Wherever we go, we love to see people succeed and there is so much potential in Devon and Cornwall. I believe that if communities succeed, then life is good for everyone and I know communities succeed best when there are good businesses, strong jobs, and a growing local economy. That is why I love business so much and Action Coach is all about achieving these objectives.
Al: That’s impressive! Can you share a little more about your qualifications and career?
Andrew De Groot: My degree is a BA Hons in Business Studies and Corporate Finance from London Guildhall University and I come to business coaching from the perspective of being a CA. I initially worked for a small firm of accountants, where I qualified, then moved to Coopers and Lybrand (PWC), followed by Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest) and HSBC. During my corporate journey I was fortunate to attend courses at Harvard Business School, the London Business School and Sandhurst.
I’ve held several management roles from Head of Product Control Finance to Head of Transformation, Global Head of Operations and CEO. All of this has equipped me with the academic background, and practical skills to work with any business from small firms to large corporations, especially in the technology sector. However, it’s the Action Coach system that brings guaranteed success.
Andrew De Groot: Man of Action
Al: So, in effect you now take business owners on Action adventures!
Andrew De Groot: I find business incredibly exciting. It’s so rewarding to build up a good business, provide decent jobs, and help the local economy to expand. That’s what I want to achieve! Having said that, I know it sounds ambitious, but one of my aims is to take at least 25 people on a millionaire journey over the next five years!
It doesn’t have to be a million, it could be 5 million or 10 million, or it could be helping business owners achieve a particular goal that is just as significant. Whatever it is, we at Action Coach Exeter want to achieve this level of success for many of our clients.
Action Coach has an excellent method of training up business growth specialists and executive coaches who can guide businesses of all sizes to achieve increase. The company’s intellectual property has been developed over the past 28 years and is a proven system. Combined with my own skillset I believe we can achieve some very real breakthroughs.
Everything we do at Action Coach Exeter is backed up through life experience; the knowledge of running big companies and how to deal with systems, processes, technology, staff etc, combined with the innovative Action Coach System which really does guarantee success.
All Action Coach coaches go through a rigorous selection process along with intensive training. Only 4% of people who apply to become Action Coach franchisees are accepted.
Al: So it’s quite an achievement being awarded an Action Coach region.
Andrew De Groot: Yes, it’s extremely difficult and it’s not all about one’s qualifications. You need to have a giving heart as Action Coach is all about giving. Each coach must care about their community and played an active role in CSR. Fortunately, that is always how I have lived my life and my businesses. While I was in Asia we worked on numerous charitable projects, building several large-scale children’s playgrounds including a massive one in Japan, as part of the development of my corporate staff.
I was delighted to be accepted as an Action Coach franchisee and complete the training. It was 12 months of the most intensive equipping that I have ever experienced but I am now qualified as a business growth specialist as well as an executive business coach. And, of course, I have my own coach with a session once a week. If you believe in coaching, you are definitely going to want to be coached yourself! So, I really do live and breathe the Action Coach System.
Al: With such a high-powered background, you are well placed to coach executives in large companies. What about the solopreneur? Do you think they could feel overwhelmed by your achievements?
Andrew De Groot: I certainly hope not! I have a friendly, supportive style plus I am a small business owner myself. I set up a start-up with some friends in the Southeast of England, which keeps me very down to earth about the challenges and emotions of getting a business off the ground. I know exactly how they are feeling. If anything, my background is an asset to the people I coach because it facilitates an overflow of belief that I am happy to lend to others.
If you would like to be one of those 25 millionaires or are looking for an exciting Action adventure in business, please get in touch!
Find our more about the services Andrew offers through Action Coach Exeter, email him at andrewdegroot@actioncoach.co.uk and follow him on LinkedIn.
Andrew was recently featured in an article by, “Franchise Info”, entitled “BANKING ON THE BENEFITS OF AN ACTIONCOACH FRANCHISE”
Also read: Looking to grow your business in 2023? Action Coach Exeter offers guaranteed results
