Gemma’s career at IPP reflects the company’s spirit of growth, collaboration, and opportunity. From her beginnings as a Commercial Representative to leading commercial network initiatives across Europe, her journey shows how curiosity and commitment can evolve into meaningful impact. For Gemma, success lies in connecting people, countries, and ideas – building partnerships that drive both business growth and sustainable progress for IPP and Faber Group.

‘We’re not just moving pallets – we’re strengthening supply chains’

“As a team, we’re focused on streamlining processes, fee structures, and frameworks to create a more consistent way of working across Europe. My experience at IPP has helped me build a strong network across customers, suppliers, and partners, which enables me to identify new opportunities on a European scale. It opens the door to growth, new challenges, and greater brand visibility for IPP through large, multi-country tenders. Most importantly, I’m enjoying each day – exploring new ways of working, collaborating with colleagues, and seeing results that are shaping how we’ll work in the future.”

And how do you feel you are carrying impact when it comes to the development of the company and the business?

“We’re on an incredibly exciting growth journey, and being part of a newly created central team presents many opportunities for both personal and professional development. It gives me visibility into how each country operates today and where we can evolve and strengthen our approach moving forward. There are great practices happening locally that we can build on and learn from. Seeing how this shared knowledge helps us improve collectively is truly motivating.”

How does Faber Group offer you opportunities for personal development, learning and growth?

“Working centrally across countries gives me a unique perspective when coordinating tenders. Instead of approaching opportunities by region, I can assess their impact across the entire group. This helps engage each country to understand how new volumes can add value, both commercially and operationally. It also allows us to better manage flows, address imbalances between countries, and drive a more efficient network.”

How do you collaborate to achieve results?

‘It’s exciting
to see how
our work today is shaping the IPP of tomorrow’

“Collaboration has always been key, and it’s something I continue to drive as a fundamental part of the IPP DNA. When implemented effectively, true collaboration delivers significant value for both customer and supplier. It transforms the relationship from a purely transactional one into a strategic partnership, strengthening contracts and driving long-term success.”

And how does your job contribute to the sustainability ambitions of Faber Group?

“With my background in managing large corporate accounts, including Pepsico, I can now take a broader view of supply chains across Europe and identify strategic opportunities. Engaging with new European tenders gives me a unique advantage. I often act as their main point of contact, which allows me to understand their operations and uncover the full potential of our partnership. It’s important that we move beyond a simple ‘pallet in, pallet out’ mindset. We are a critical part of their supply chain, and by positioning ourselves as a value-adding partner, we deliver far more than just logistics.”

How does your job add value to the supply chain and to the business of customers?

‘We are not
just a pallet
supplier.
We are
a pooling
partner’

“What I love most about my current role is the variety it offers. One day I might be writing a process, and the next I’m speaking with a potential new customer about a multi-country tender requiring millions of pallets. I enjoy the problem solving and challenges that come with it. Since moving into the central division, I’ve been able to collaborate with teams across several countries, learning about their regions and building strong cross-cultural relationships.”

What do you like most about your job?

“Over my 11 years within the UKI team, I progressed from Account Executive to Senior Account Manager, co-managing our top customers. My focus was on driving mutual growth, reducing liability charges, supporting projects, and ensuring strong account performance. I loved being in front of customers, whether suited up presenting a review or in a hi-vis sorting pallets when a quality issue arose. Since January 2025, I’ve taken on a central role as Commercial Network Manager. I now oversee large EU tenders, manage contract pricing, secure new business opportunities, coordinate implementations, and align commercial frameworks across multiple countries.”

Can you tell us more about your main job responsibilities?

“My journey with IPP began somewhat unexpectedly, more a case of the company finding me than the other way around. Back in 2013, I was working as a recruiter looking to fill a role within the Commercial team. After an initial meeting to better understand the business, I found myself genuinely drawn to the company’s ethos and culture. It felt like the right fit and somewhere I wanted to explore further. At that time, there was no account management function in the UKI office, but the business was ready to invest in building one and I wanted to be part of that journey. I joined the team and spent my first year getting up to speed with the world of pallets and understanding the commercial landscape. When an opportunity in account management arose, I was already familiar with the role, our customers, and the wider business. That’s when the real journey began.”

How did you come to work at IPP and what made you choose this job/company?

Gemma Steed has been part of IPP since 2013 and currently holds the role of Commercial Network Manager. Based in the UK, she supports the central commercial division, helping to drive growth and consistency across Europe.

‘I joined a company whose culture immediately felt
like home’