In this edition, we talk to Matt Heald, our Chief Operating Officer at Fleetondemand. Having been with the business since its very first day, Matt has played a central role in shaping our journey over the past 15 years, from Chartered Accountant and Financial Controller through to Operations Director, COO and most recently our Interim CEO.
Matt has overseen key projects that have supported Fleetondemand’s growth, from large-scale technology transitions to preparing the business for its next stage of expansion. But what he values most is the people: seeing colleagues develop their careers, thrive in new roles, and shape the culture that makes Fleetondemand a great place to work.
Describe your current role and how long you’ve worked at FOD.
I'm the Chief Operating Officer at Fleetondemand. I started here on day 1 of the business, with no software, no people, and no customers. After building it all from the ground up, we'll be celebrating our 15th birthday next year. I began as a Chartered Accountant in the role of Financial Controller, then progressed to Operations Director. I have been the COO since 2020 and also took on an Interim CEO position this year. I've been a member of the board since 2015. It's been quite a journey watching the company grow over the past decade and a half.
Which projects are you currently working on?
My project is the business itself. I'm focused on building on the company's strengths from a customer service and technology point of view. The main project has really been preparing the business for scaled growth, ensuring we have the right foundations, processes, and people in place to handle significant expansion while maintaining the world-class service quality our customers expect.
What made you want to pursue your current career path?
I didn't specifically want to get into fleet. As many people in this industry have told me, they just kind of fell into this world. Fleet and technology were never fields I saw myself working in. It was simply where my training as a Chartered Accountant led me.
Once you're in it though, you get drawn in. The industry itself is very close-knit where everyone knows everyone, and that creates a really engaging environment to work in.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
The growth and development of people. That's what I find most rewarding. Dan started as a Backend Developer and is now our Information Security Director. Tracy began in the IT team and is now Technology Director. Ellie's currently doing her Quality IT assessment courses after starting as a Supply Chain Apprentice. Luke Creighton joined as an IT Apprentice and is now an End User Computing Manager.
You see all these different people going through their own journeys, mainly because they want to apply themselves, but also because we've given them the framework to grow and take on different roles in the business. We actively try to give people opportunities to develop.
The other thing I find really rewarding is the feedback from our customers about how we help them in their own lines of work, day-to-day. We are always here to support our customers, people and partners. Our average length of service for employees is now over six years, which is something I'm very proud of.
What have been your proudest moments at work to date?
Over the last 15 years, that's a big question for me. It goes back to the same recurring themes around the development of people.
My proudest achievement isn't necessarily a specific moment, but rather that we've created an environment where people can develop, think autonomously, and work smarter. Being able to set the tone and framework that allows people to flourish has been incredibly fulfilling.
We have quite a few people who have been able to test new careers, return to their original roles if they choose, or successfully transition if that path works out. We like giving people the flexibility to grow and explore where their interests and abilities might take them.
That culture of opportunity and development is what I'm most proud of building here.
What’s one professional skill you’re working on?
The professional skills I'm working on come from reading more business insights to understand what other successful companies have done to get to where they are today. I recently read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins, which is an interesting book about the foundations of what makes businesses great. That's effectively developing my management skills at the C-suite level.
The other area I'm focused on is listening and communication skills. It doesn't mean I'm not good at these now, but there are always ways to improve. Something I say quite often is that we just need to work out how to do a couple of things better tomorrow than we did yesterday.
What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?
To make sure that you always have a clear vision for what you're trying to achieve. With a clear vision, it helps you focus on that singular thing rather than being distracted by countless other opportunities or challenges. Just do what you're good at, while also recognising that you have the skills to be adaptable.
Describe a challenge you’ve faced this year and how you overcame it?
I wouldn't call it a challenge exactly, but the major project this year has been our AWS migration for GT Suite. My role was to help and support our team to achieve their objectives around this project. It required coordinating with different departments and ensuring everyone had the resources and support needed to make the transition successful.
What do you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?
My main focus over the next 12 months is continuing to invest in our people as we scale. We're growing and gaining new customers at record levels, so ensuring our team has the right training and knowledge to handle that growth is crucial. Maintaining that consistency and personal touch as we grow significantly is really what I'm determined to achieve this year.
How would your friends describe you?
Reliable, relaxed, and patient.
Can you describe the top 3 items on your bucket list?
First, climbing Mount Fuji in Japan. I've been to Japan before and absolutely loved it, so I want to go back specifically to take on that challenge. Second, owning a Nissan GTR. It's been a dream car of mine for a while. Third, going to watch a Blue Jays Game at the Rogers Centre (see below!)
Share a random fact about yourself.
Something recent, actually, is that I have taken on a new-found interest in Major League Baseball. I was captivated by the Toronto Blue Jays’ run to Game 7 of the World Series final. They narrowly missed out in the final moments, but it was worth staying up till 4am for.
If there was ever a representation of a team that truly understood the concept of being a high-performing, world-class team, it was the group of players that took them to the brink of their first World Series title in 32 years.
What are your top three favourite songs of all time?
That's an impossible question for me. There's no such thing as my top 3 songs because it changes depending on my mood and what's happening in life. But if I had to pick artists I consistently love, A Tribe Called Quest, Dire Straits and Faithless would definitely be up there.
What did you want to be when you grew up and why?
I wanted to be a fighter pilot because I watched Top Gun as a kid. I was completely captivated by it, so I joined the Air Cadets and had genuine aspirations to go into the RAF. As you can tell, that didn’t quite work out 🤣
