We value getting to know all about the clients we work with and the faces behind the brands and businesses. Naturally we expect you to want to know more about us too.

To help with that, we’ll be bringing you regular insights into our team, sharing what they love about their work, how they spend their time outside of the office, and what book or film they’re currently immersed in.

Our latest team chat is with office manager, Jo. She tells us about her fur babies, tourism career and love of the East Anglian Coast.

NAME – Jo Lewry

ROLE – Office Manager

AREA YOU COVER – East Anglia

Where do you live?

Great Cornard.

And who with?

My husband Gareth and our two fur baby cats.

Tell us a little about your career background:

I have spent the bulk of my career in the tourism industry, however due to COVID I had to re-evaluate my situation and after 16 years in my previous role I made the decision to look at a different industry.

What do you most enjoy about your particular professional role?

That each day is so different. The fact that our clients come from so many different industries brings with it a real variety. You think that a day will go one way, but a lot of the time you end up with a day you would not expect!

What attracted you into the world of HR?

I think for me, as I work in the back office, the attraction really was working with MAD-HR. From my first interview, I really felt a connection and felt that my own core values mirror that of MAD-HR. From day one I was made to feel so welcome and included. That continues to grow every day.

Do you have a pet peeve about how others perceive your job?

Maybe that because my role is in the back office, it is just sitting in front of a computer typing all day.

This really isn’t the case!

Whilst the bulk of my time is at a computer, I have the opportunity to do other things, such as represent the company at business events.

If you hadn’t gone into this type of work, what else were you destined to do?

I used to love to perform and enjoyed taking part in school plays so maybe I was destined to be performing in the West End 😊

What one key thing do you feel people should know about MAD-HR that might surprise or delight them?

I had thought that HR might be a little boring, but our team are real people and are great fun to work with.

What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead for MAD-HR?

Continuing to support my colleagues and the company and being able to see it grow and prosper.

How would your colleagues describe you?

Approachable, caring and a little bit of a joker!

Outside of work, do you have particular things you like to do or places you like to go regularly?

My parents have a caravan in Norfolk which we have access to in the summer.

I love spending time up on the coast and enjoy walking too.

What do you love most about living in this part of the world?

How close we are to such beautiful places, either in the countryside or on the coast.

How do you like to spend a day off?

Catching up with friends over a glass or two of wine.

Currently reading: The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Currently listening to: Green Day

Currently watching: Dopesick

Find out how you can join the MAD-HR team…