When you ask Andy Mcleod how he got his start in electronics, he won’t launch into a polished elevator pitch. He’ll tell you about pie and mash.
“I used to help my uncle out at his electronics repair shop under the Deptford Arches,” he recalls. “I’d cycle around picking up resistors and capacitors, sort them by colour-code and value, sweep up, whatever needed doing. At the end of the day, we’d grab pie and mash. That was the highlight.”
It’s a humble memory, but one that reveals the essence of Andy’s leadership: practical, grounded and people-first. Today, he’s the Managing Director of Texcel Technology, a role that grew not from ambition, but from curiosity, work ethic and a knack for getting stuck in.
Andy’s story isn’t one of fast-track promotions or corporate climbing. It’s one of learning by doing, leading by example.
The Early Days: Finding Direction Through DoingAndy freely admits that, during his school years, he had no grand plans. “I was a bit of a lost sheep, to be honest,” he says. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.”
At Grammar School, when asked about his future by a careers advisor, Andy shrugged. He enjoyed football, hanging out with mates and helping his Uncle in that little workshop in Deptford but none of it looked like a career at the time.
It was that anecdote about cycling parts across town and colour-coding resistors that caught his teacher’s attention. Maybe, just maybe, there was something there. The suggestion: an apprenticeship.
That single suggestion would shape the next four decades of Andy’s life.
Apprenticeship: The Grounding That Changed Everything
Andy joined electronics firm Molins at just 16. There was no fast-track, no shortcuts. Just a thorough, rotational apprenticeship that exposed him to every part of the business — goods in, design, stores, build, test, purchasing, accounts.
“It taught me how all the pieces fit together,” he says. “I didn’t just learn to solder or build a circuit. I learned how a business works.”
That experience would become the bedrock of his leadership style: practical, well-rounded, and deeply respectful of the people doing the work on the ground. To this day, Andy is a fierce advocate for apprenticeships and hands-on learning. As Managing Director, he’s made sure Texcel builds bridges for young people the same way one was built for him.
Climbing the Ranks at Texcel
In 1985, Andy joined a small but growing electronics firm in Greenwich Texcel Technology as employee number 15 (Lisa fact check TBC). Back then, the team was compact and the roles were fluid. Everyone wore multiple hats and Andy thrived in that environment.
He progressed steadily: Design Engineer, then Manager, then Technical Director. At every step, he carried with him the knowledge of what it meant to work at every level of the organisation.
Eventually, Andy enrolled in an MBA program to sharpen his commercial acumen. It wasn’t about adding letters after his name, it was about rounding out his understanding so he could lead with both technical expertise and business clarity.
That rare combination engineer and strategist, technician and leader is what makes Andy such a steady presence at the top of the organisation.
A Leadership Style Forged in Real Life
Andy’s leadership philosophy is best summed up by a mentor from his early years.
“He always knew the answers,” Andy recalls, “but he never gave them to you. He’d wait. Let you think. Let you figure it out.”
That model, patient, empowering, quietly confident stuck. It’s how Andy leads today. He doesn’t bark orders. He builds trust. He encourages autonomy. And when someone’s stuck, he steps in, not with a lecture, but with support.
It’s why Texcel has developed such a strong team culture. People at every level are trusted to make decisions. Communication flows freely. And no one, not even the MD, is above fixing something if it’s broken. (Yes, he really did fix the toilet last week!)
“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice,” Andy says. “It’s about creating an environment where people can do their best work.”
Taking the Helm: A Quiet But Clear Transition
When long-time Managing Director Peter Shawyer decided to step sideways, the transition to Andy was clear, symbolic and seamless. There was even a literal desk swap, a physical gesture that marked a shift in leadership without disrupting the soul of the company.
Peter focused on Sales and Marketing, while Andy took full control of the day-to-day running of the business. That handover was about more than logistics. It was about continuity, trust and staying true to the company's values.
“I didn’t want to reinvent Texcel,” Andy says. “I wanted to protect what made it great and sharpen what could make it better.”
Evolving Texcel: Staying Ahead Without Losing Sight
From relocating the business from Greenwich to Crayford to upgrading production capabilities, the company has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. Since taking the reins, Andy has helped steer Texcel through a period relentless transformation. Recent investments, like a £120,000 wash plant, show a commitment to quality, cleanliness, and technological sophistication.
But Andy knows that equipment alone doesn’t drive success. People do.
He’s concerned about the ageing engineering workforce in the UK and the risk of losing decades of knowledge. Many of the designs Texcel supports were created 20+ years ago and it takes a skilled hand to maintain and evolve them.
“We need fresh blood,” Andy says. “And that starts with creating real pathways into the industry.”
The Texcel Impact: Quietly Shaping the World
Texcel isn’t a company that makes noise for the sake of it but its influence is everywhere. You’ll find Texcel-built systems in some of the most critical, complex and unexpected places on Earth and beyond.
From the division bells in the House of Commons to tsunami warning sensors on the sea-floor. From subsea fibre optic nodes that connect continents, to Lloyd’s insurance approved ships loading computers. From hearing loop systems that improve accessibility, to monitoring equipment in the UK’s first digital telephone exchanges. Texcel’s technology has been used in electron beam microscopes, satellite components, and even fighter jet flap controls. Each project leaves a real-world footprint often unseen, but always significant.
For Andy, that’s where the real magic of electronics lies. “You never know what you’ll be helping to make,” he says. And that unpredictability brings purpose. “You step back sometimes and realise, we helped make that,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Whether it’s helping to prevent a natural disaster, enable secure communication, or support someone with hearing loss, it’s not just about building components. It’s about making a difference.
At Texcel, the work is technical but the mission is human
A Strategic Vision for the Next Chapter
With Peter Shawyer’s recent retirement after four decades at Texcel, a significant chapter has closed and a new one begins.
Texcel’s five-year strategy is focused and ambitious: smart investment in equipment, continued development of its people and targeted growth. And there’s never been a better time to reinforce that vision. 2026 marks Texcel’s 50th anniversary a rare milestone in the world of manufacturing. “We were incorporated in January 1976 and we’ve got a year of celebrations planned to mark the occasion,” Andy says. “We’re financially stable, we’ve got a strong team and a reputation our clients trust. This is the perfect time to build on that.”
The anniversary year won’t just be about parties and plaques. Andy is planning a series of events to celebrate with both employees, suppliers and clients. “I want to welcome as many of our existing clients as I can into Texcel to see what’s new and what we’re doing,” he says. “It’s a chance to say thank you, reconnect and look ahead together.”
The Man Outside the Office
Outside work, Andy idea of a good weekend? Family time, a bit of hockey with the kids, a decent curry and a pint of cider.
At Texcel, colleagues describe him as dependable, fair and trustworthy. He cares deeply about the business, the people and the work they do.
He’s not flashy. He doesn’t seek the spotlight. But he brings a calm authority to everything he touches and a kind of leadership that’s rare in an age of quick wins and loud voices.
The Legacy in Motion
Andy didn’t plan to be a Managing Director. He didn’t chase titles or talk in buzzwords. He started with a bike ride to a repair shop under the arches and let his actions speak for themselves. Andy’s journey proves that good leadership isn’t about knowing it all, it’s about staying curious, staying grounded and helping others rise with you.
Today, he’s leading Texcel with the same hands-on spirit, the same focus on people and the same sense of purpose he’s carried for 40 years.
And thanks to Andy, Texcel is well-positioned to keep making that impact.
If you’d like to book an appointment with Andy, go for some pie and mash, whether at your place of business or here at Texcel, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be happy to hear from you.
