John Lister - Getting To Know You

Since joining RPC as Projects Director several years ago, John Lister has been a driving force behind the company’s growth and success. With a rich background in engineering, technology consulting, and leadership – spanning roles from graduate engineer in Africa to Director of International Consulting at Primavera – John brings a pragmatic “get stuff done” approach that perfectly suits RPC’s dynamic and agile culture. Now as Managing Director, he leads the team through exciting expansion, overseeing everything from office refurbishment to modernising business systems, all while guiding RPC into a fully employee-owned future. John’s hands-on leadership, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to both the team and customers make him a pivotal figure in RPC’s ongoing journey. 

Where are you based? 

I’m based in Wiltshire, though I spend about half my time in Yorkshire. You’ll often find me somewhere in between – usually on a train, which is exactly where I’m typing this from now. 

Tell us a bit about yourself

I was born and raised in Bradford, and now live in Wiltshire with my wife Alison and our three boys, who are each carving out their own paths into adulthood: one's at university, one’s travelling the world, and the youngest is currently doing his A levels.

How has your career path brought you to RPC?

I studied Building Engineering at Bath University, then spent a few years in Africa as a Graduate Engineer. That’s where I was handed a box of P3 software – on a pile of floppy disks – and asked to put a schedule together. I quickly discovered an interest in dabbling with new-fangled computers, and ended up building an RFI management system using Lotus Approach and Ami Pro. 

That led to a role training and consulting on P3 and Expedition with a Primavera partner in London. Eventually, I joined Primavera itself, where I took on my first management role and progressed to Director of International Consulting, staying on through its acquisition by Oracle. 

After leaving Oracle a couple of years later, I went through what I jokingly call my 'wilderness years' – doing everything from freelance consulting to a stint at a major consulting firm. It was during this time, while freelancing, that I first worked with RPC, before officially joining as Projects Director a couple of years later. 

What attracted you to RPC? 

When I joined RPC, it was a small, friendly, and well-established company that felt like it was on the brink of something exciting – I believe I was employee number nine at that time. Over the course of my career, I’d come to realise that I thrive in environments where things get done without endless layers of approval. At RPC, that spirit was very much alive – ‘JFDI’ was a common response to new ideas! 

While becoming Employee Owned has naturally introduced more scrutiny and a bit more structure, we’ve retained the agility and decisiveness that originally attracted me. 

What are you working on right now?  

RPC continues to grow year on year, not just in our traditional strength of training, but also in newer areas like technology consulting. Right now, a big part of my role is helping guide the company through this growth – everything from refurbishing the office to fit our expanding team, to modernising some of our ageing business systems. 

We're also approaching a major milestone: the final stages of repaying our Employee Ownership debt. 'Freedom Day' is on the horizon, when we’ll have the opportunity – as a fully employee-owned business – to decide together how we want to reinvest and share in the company’s success. 

What do you like best about your job? 

What I enjoy most is getting things done and seeing real progress. I’m lucky to work with a fantastic team, and we’re fortunate to have great customers who genuinely seem to value what we do. I also really appreciate the strong working relationship we’ve built with Oracle over the years. 

What do you do in your spare time? 

I like having a project to sink my teeth into. I’m part of the steering group behind our local community-owned shop, whitleystores.org, which has been a really rewarding initiative. I also enjoy woodworking – everything from building banqueting tables and decking to treehouses, under the banner of what I jokingly call ‘Flat Cap Projects’. At the moment, I’m in the middle of a bespoke shed build and trying to finish off a camper van conversion.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

An Architect – but course-corrected into Engineering as I was more mathematically inclined.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 

Can I share three? 

First, 'Don’t be afraid to make mistakes - if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough' (Joel Koppelman). That one stuck with me early in my career. 

Second, 'A leader is only as good as the people they surround themselves with' (Bill Santus), which has proven true time and again. 

And finally, a personal favourite: 'Measure twice, cut once' – a bit of wisdom I remind myself of every time I’m in the workshop making sawdust. 

What’s on your desk? 

An offcut of wood from a past project.  It’s my stress ball for some of the endless Teams calls.  Oh, and my chuckle brothers’ coaster (dare you to show that!!)

How do you like your tea?

Yorkshire, builder’s, splash of milk, no sugar please.

Dog or cat? 

Dog – loyal and drags you into the pub.

If your house was on fire, what 3 things would you save? 

Assuming my family - including Sprocket, our dog - was already safe, the one thing I’d save is my half-built campervan. It would be my home base whilst we rebuild everything else. 

What would your superpower be?

Bring a bit more equity to the world.  It saddens me the growing gap between rich and poor the impact that’s having on society.  Best not to get me started on this one…