Philip Holt

Philip Holt

After more than 30 years of business experience, practising and studying Lean Thinking, I have come to believe that sustainable improvement starts with leadership, not tools. The way leaders think, behave and interact with people shapes the culture of an organisation and, ultimately, its performance.

In my first book, Leading with Lean, I explore how anyone, wherever they might be in an organisation, can apply Lean Thinking and become a Lean Leader in their own right. Drawing on my experience of leading Lean transformations, I introduce practical approaches to leadership that help organisations build a culture of continuous improvement.

My second book, The Simplicity of Lean, is a practical, step-by-step guide to the thinking and principles that make organisations more efficient and effective. It provides the context needed to apply Lean Thinking successfully, bringing together theory, practical application and personal insights from my own experience, alongside the successes and failures of Lean leaders from around the world.

My third book, Leading Lean by Living Lean, takes the conversation a step further. It explores the relationship between how leaders think, what they believe, how they behave and the culture they create. Sustainable Lean Leadership is not simply about knowing the principles or applying the tools; it is about living the values we expect others to demonstrate. By connecting leadership beliefs, thoughts, emotions and actions, the book examines how leaders can create the conditions for people to thrive, develop their capabilities and deliver lasting improvement.

Together, these three books reflect my belief that Lean is ultimately about people. It is about creating organisations where purpose guides decisions, respect for people is demonstrated through everyday behaviour, and continuous improvement becomes part of how everyone works. The aim is not simply to make organisations more efficient, but to make the world of work a better place for people.

What the Experts Say About Leading with Lean

“Philip has written a clear and practical guide for Lean champions and existing Lean leaders, which provides an end-to-end guide on designing and sustaining a Lean transformation. If you are looking to build a culture of continuous improvement, whether at a one or multi-site level, this provides some real gems of practical ‘know why’ and ‘know how’ for Lean leaders everywhere.”

– Jon Tudor, president of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence UK

“In Leading with Lean, Philip Holt has ably mapped out the benefits, challenges and effective approaches for leading a Lean transformation. Leading with Lean draws on lessons that the author learned from the trenches through to the executive level, while helping to guide a decade-long Lean journey at a global multinational corporation. The book will appeal both to the executive searching for a comprehensive framework for leading with Lean, and to the Lean expert who must speak a common language to gain buy-in and behavior change from the leaders in their organization. Packed with practical wisdom, the reader will no doubt be compelled to put the book down and take action many times before turning the final page.”

– Jon Miller, partner at the Gemba Academy

“Philip Holt provides the reader with more than an in depth look at leading with lean, he provides a process along with insightful new concepts to grab the reader and bring them many revelations on leading the lean journey. Concepts such as Leadership Activism, Mosquito leadership, and many others provide a straight forward and practical understanding of leading a lean journey. If you are leading a lean transformation, it is a must read for your leadership team.”

– Kevin J. Duggan, President, Duggan Associates

“Although Lean has been around for some time, it continues to make defining inroads both in new industries and in office environments. I can’t think of anybody better placed than Philip to share his reflections and experiences accumulated over more than 25 years leading change with Lean in both manufacturing and services. I recommend this book to all, as its practical insights will help us to lead the change we want to see.”

– Mathieu Verger, Head of Accounting Operations, Philips Lighting

What the Experts Say About The Simplicity of Lean

“Philip has written a practical book about the why and how of Lean, a simple model for consistent growth and continuous improvement. I actually wish he had written this book before I started my Lean learning journey. It will be a great help to anyone embarked on the learning curve, full of practical and applicable lessons and complemented with Hansei reflection space. Lean makes life easier, especially when under Philip’s guidance. Who does not need a little simplicity these days to ensure that we can focus on the things that matter, like growth and innovation?”

– Simone Noordegraaf, CEO of iPEC Coaching Europe and Executive Coach

“With The Simplicity of Lean, Philip has created a comprehensive overview of the fundamental thinking behind Lean, as well as how to apply the lean tools in a pragmatic way. A very useful guide to jump-start your Lean journey or a good refresher for people who are already underway”

– Hans van‘t Riet, VP, Tranformation Leader & Head of Implementation Competence Centre, Philips

“Organisational transformation is notoriously difficult to achieve and even harder to sustain, not least due to the complexity of the myriad human factors involved. In The Simplicity of Lean, Philip addresses some of the key elements of a successful Lean Transformation, from expectations to leaders’ beliefs. The book contains some real gems, focused on people issues, making it an excellent guide to the technical and social application of Lean.”

– David Bovis, Managing Director, Duxinaroe Ltd and Business Consulting Associate Director, Grant Thornton LLP

“In The Simplicity of Lean, Philip provides a powerful and versatile array of management tools. Most importantly however, these tools are presented in a context that connects with the realities of daily operations, both technical and interpersonal. Philip doesn’t just give you the tools, he gives you a framework for introducing these tools to the people who will use and sustain them. He accomplishes this through both thought experiments and real personal stories from the Gemba. Understanding “The Simplicity of Lean” will enable you to overcome the complex challenges that all organisations face in creating a better future for your company, its customers and your community.”

– Collin McLoughlin, Author of True Kaizen, Founder of Enna, an imprint of Productivity Press

“The Simplicity of Lean is an ideal companion for the Lean Practitioner. Written in a very personal manner, it addresses the four key elements necessary to put a lean culture in place. Based on experiences in both manufacturing and office based activity, it educates the reader on the core devices within each of these key elements. Gems of personal insight and reflection will make this a thought provoking read for both experienced and novice Lean Practitioners. Before you lead with Lean, you first need to understand the fundamentals of Lean, and how to put a Lean system in place. This book provides that practical model and is ideal for those embarking on the journey to create a Lean culture.”

– Jon Tudor, Managing Director, True North Excellence and former President, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (UK)

"Leading Lean by Living Lean is a a great, practical book, for anyone who wants to drive a lean culture as it focuses on helping you practice what you preach – i.e making CI part of you and your work and life. Pulls in models based on practical application. This has been by go-to book for the past 6 months when needing ideas, reference points or validation to existing plans."

– Jon Tudor, Managing Director, True North Excellence and former President, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (UK)

About Philip Holt

Philip Holt is a Lean Leadership author, speaker and practitioner with more than 35 years of business experience in senior leadership roles across the customer value chain. He is currently VP, TEOA Business System, at TE Connectivity, and previously Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence, at GKN Aerospace, Vice President, Continuous Improvement at Travelport and held several senior Lean Leadership positions at Royal Philips, including Head of Continuous Improvement for Philips, Head of Continuous Improvement for the Consumer Lifestyle sector, and Head of Operational Excellence, Accounting Operations. He was also the lead author of the Philips Lean Excellence Model.

Throughout his career, Philip has helped organisations develop and deploy Lean Operating Models, embedding the systems, behaviours and capabilities needed to sustain continuous improvement. His experience spans manufacturing and services, from operational teams to executive leadership, and he is a regular speaker at industry conferences.

Philip’s approach to Lean Leadership centres on the belief that leadership behaviour shapes organisational culture. He advocates simplicity over unnecessary complexity, capability over dependency, and respect for people as something demonstrated through everyday actions rather than expressed merely as a value. His work connects the human and technical dimensions of Lean, helping leaders understand that lasting improvement depends not only on what an organisation does, but also on how its people think, feel and act.

Through his books, speaking and work with organisations, Philip continues to champion his purpose: Making the World of Work a Better Place for People.

He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, Warwick Business School and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.