25/04/2025
Spotlight On…
David Banks, Global Marketing HSE Manager, Phillips 66 Limited.
We caught up with Global Marketing HSE Manager, David Banks, as he dialled in from a business trip to Houston. Reflecting on an impressive 34-year career with Phillips 66 Limited, David shared his thoughts on a varied and demanding role, ‘keeping shop’ with a certain Mr Ray Winstone, and a lifelong love for the ‘beautiful game’.
Tell us how you came to be at Phillips 66 Limited.
It was February 1991 – 34 years ago – when I joined. I was self-employed prior to that, and I worked in a greengrocer with Ray Winstone. In a book about his life, he said that it was in Muswell Hill, but it was actually in Crouch End – it was owned by his Uncle Fred. As you can probably imagine, there are lots of stories from that time… but probably best to keep them to myself!
I took a role as a Security Supervisor for Group Four, and my first deployment was at the Conoco Building in Park Street. I had the opportunity to grow and develop that role, eventually becoming Contracts Manager for all of Conoco’s operations in the UK. Over time, that position evolved into a facilities role as well. I did that for about 14 years on a contract basis before becoming a permanent employee in 2005, when I joined the Real Estate team. I became increasingly involved in project management and was fortunate to be involved in a number of major office fit-outs and relocations, including in Warwick, Hamburg and Dubai.
When the Warwick office closed and we moved to London, I was asked if I’d be interested in the UK Marketing Safety role and becoming part of the Marketing Leadership team, which ultimately turned into a global marketing role. That’s why I’m talking to you from Houston this morning!
What does your role entail?
It’s broad and varied! From a Health and Safety perspective, it’s about ensuring a safe environment for staff to work in – making sure all the HSE compliance facilities management operations are in place, carrying out risk assessments, and making sure that the right people are trained in the right disciplines, etc. Safety underpins everything we do as a business.
From a Facilities Management perspective, it’s largely around building management and safety, then moving out into the field to cover maintenance and construction of our retail sites. It’s about providing advice to the business – making sure we have the right contractors and the appropriate level of competency, etc.
I also have responsibility for our business travel contract, which comes with its own unique set of challenges.
When you’re not travelling, what does a typical day look like for you?
I'm blessed, because the Elizabeth Line has knocked about 30 minutes off my commute! Honestly, it’s kind of changed my life, which is great – but why not 20 years ago?!
When I wake up, I check my emails to see if there’s anything I need to get on right away. I try not to look at them on the train and listen to music to relax – it’s a good time to reflect on what meetings I’ve got, and what I need to prepare for. When I get in, it's straight into looking at emails, especially if there's anything that has come in overnight from the US. Truth be told, a ‘normal day’ tends to work itself out. There’s a lot of administrative paperwork, and it could be anything from issues relating to Dealer or CODO sites through to maintenance issues. Health and Safety means I get involved in pretty much everything. I'm part of the EV Strategy team and also part of the London Leadership team. It's incredibly varied and can sometimes be meeting-heavy. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I get a real sense of joy when someone cancels a meeting!
Tell us about the good (and the not-so-good) parts of your job.
I’m a people person. I like to deal with people, and I like to talk to people. If I have one email exchange that goes into another, I’ll pick up the phone and have a conversation – sometimes it’s simply about asking the right questions to get the answers you need to resolve an issue. I really enjoy being on the Leadership Team – you get a more holistic view of all the different businesses. Ultimately, I think the diversity of my role, not just in terms of the Health and Safety side, but also the people I work with, are what keeps me coming back to work every day.
On the flip side, I would have said the commute, but it’s probably now the admin (‘thank you’ Elizabeth line).
Is there a particular project or a particular moment that stands out from your career?
The relocation of our London office from Marble Arch to the City of London. It came about when Conoco and Phillips 66 Ltd. parted company, and it was a big change for the company, so I really wanted to create an environment that felt familiar and welcoming – a place people actually wanted to be. After about six months, I was talking to people in the office, and someone turned around and said, “Do you know what? It feels like we’ve been here for ages.” And that was the moment when I felt, ‘Yeah, we’ve got this right.’ It was an immensely satisfying moment. Change can be very confronting – from a business perspective you want people to hit the ground running, but it’s a balancing act, and I felt with this project, we got it right.
Tell us something about you that people may not know.
I love my football. I travel around the country to watch matches, and I play football – and will continue to play until I’m unable to walk! It would’ve been my dream job, but I played at a decent amateur level, and I was a coach, which I loved. To see players grow and develop from under-fives to under-sixteens and through to senior level was hugely satisfying. My children also both played, and it was a great way for us to spend time together. Happy memories.
And I love Ireland with a passion. I don’t know why, because I love hot weather, but there’s something about the county that I find truly magical. My parents are from the west coast in County Sligo, and I’ve got a brother who lives there. For me, it’s the perfect place to decompress.
What are the attributes you need to do the job you do?
A strong work ethic. You must also have a common-sense approach, and you’ve got to be a people person – and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a good sense of humour!