VADIMS NIKONOVS

We caught up with Vadims Nikonovs, Eastwood Distribution Centre Manager, to chat to him about his Greene King career journey so far, what Eastwood will be prioritising this year, and his recent internal promotion...

Vad, tell us a little about yourself…

Sure! I’m Vad, and I’ve been with Greene King for eight years now. Originally from Eastern Europe, I moved to the UK after hanging up my skates from a professional ice hockey career.

I found a new passion in logistics and joined Greene King as a Team Leader back in 2016. Since then, I’ve worked hard to progress, and most recently secured the role of Distribution Centre Manager at Eastwood.

Congratulations on your promotion, what will your role as Eastwood Distribution Centre Manager entail?

Thanks! In a nutshell, I’m responsible for overseeing the full operation of the Eastwood depot. But it goes beyond that — it’s about creating the right environment for our people to thrive, making sure we’re aligned with Greene King’s goals, keeping a sharp focus on safety, driving engagement, and delivering solid performance. I’m really proud of the team we’ve built at Eastwood and excited about what we’ll achieve together.

Sounds like an exciting time for Eastwood, what’s on the plan for this year?

It is! Since the drinks and food networks merged, we’ve taken time to reset and really understand the opportunities in front of us. This year, we’re focusing on driving service and cost improvements, with a clear plan to deliver budget, tighten labour controls, and boost our OTIF (On Time in Full) performance.

Health & Safety continues to be a top priority. We will be bringing in new lead indicators and better governance to make sure safety is embedded in how we work every day, not just something we talk about.

We’re also putting a lot of energy into building a stronger culture — one that’s rooted in engagement, recognition, and open communication. We want everyone at Eastwood to feel part of the bigger picture and know they can have a voice.

And finally, we’re backing our people. That means structured development plans, regular 121s, and clear succession planning — making sure we’re not just delivering for now, but growing the talent that will take us forward.