Impact and Story of Andrea Troy
From Paper Rounds to Product Leadership: A Journey of Grit, Growth and Purpose
Andrea Troy’s story begins in a small seaside town in Kent, where she was raised by her mother after moving to the UK from Ireland at the age of four. Life wasn’t always easy. Money was tight, and from a young age, Andrea understood the value of hard work.
At just 13, she took on her first job — a Saturday shift in a local clothes shop while her friends spent weekends relaxing. When the shop closed two years later, she quickly found work in a busy restaurant, often giving up her weekends and school holidays to earn extra income. She also delivered free newspapers around her neighbourhood, sometimes alone and in the dark — determined to contribute and become independent.
After leaving school with a handful of GCSEs and spending a short time in college, Andrea moved into full-time work in a hotel restaurant. But it was at just 17 that she got her first real break: a job at Saga Holidays. Starting on the brochure request line, she worked her way up over 11 years, earning a management diploma along the way and handling out-of-hours emergencies — everything from cancelled holidays to liaising with UK police when tragedy struck overseas.
In 2007, Andrea joined energyhelpline.com to manage their call centre. With experience in high-pressure customer service roles, her new boss said, “If you can handle holiday disasters, you can handle switching energy.” And she could.
Over time, she rose to Head of Commercial, working directly with the CEO. She played a key role in growing the business from fewer than 20 employees to over 200, launching successful new verticals like home phone, broadband, and TV. Her success was built on a mix of strategic thinking, problem-solving, and a strong grounding in the realities of what customers actually need.
Today, as a Director at Orbus, Andrea leads the development of customer-focused products and services designed to make everyday life easier and more affordable. Behind the title is someone who knows what it means to stretch a budget, juggle responsibilities, and build a career from the ground up — and she brings that real-world experience into every decision she makes.
Her journey from paper rounds and waiting tables to boardrooms and business strategy is a story of grit, adaptability, and the belief that hard work and purpose can take you anywhere.