What was your first job?
After graduating, I moved to London. I had completed my management trainee experience at the now Renaissance Hotel Heathrow Airport and they took me on full-time as a conference and banqueting co-ordinator.
What qualifications do you have?
I studied at University of Ulster Magee and attained a BA (Hons) in hotel and tourism management.
What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute becoming general manager at Titanic Hotel Belfast, arguably Northern Ireland’s most unique hotel as it is situated in the Titanic Drawing Office, to having grasped every opportunity I have been fortunate enough to be presented with throughout my career. I have worked in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. I firmly believe that I should open every door to an opportunity and see what is beyond it. My philosophy has always been to not be afraid of adventure as you can always return home. I have had so many great experiences around the world because of this and met so many good people.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
I enjoy life, value my family and friends greatly, appreciate the finer details, but know I was a country boy to start. I appreciate everything I have been given.
Who do you look up to in business?
I have had amazing general managers throughout my career, and I look up to many of them, trying to take their best traits and rolling them into my own style.
How do you get the best out of people who work for you?
I value everyone’s opinion and I make a point of understanding what can motivate them. I recruit the right people, provide the right environment for them and sit back and watch the results. Allowing people to excel at what they can do is important. I would say that you should never ask a rabbit to swim as asking for the impossible will cause disappointment.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
Sometimes we do not believe in ourselves, we look to other countries to follow. We should be more confident in what we can offer and accomplish.
What website or app could you not do without?
Google… it has an answer for everything, not always the right one though!
What was the last book you read?
John Grisham’s The Rooster Bar is on the nightstand right now.
What car do you drive?
Audi A5
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I have led an Irish dancing team in a hotel bar in Moscow as a forfeit… don’t ask…
What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?
I simply love to cook and travel. Nothing is more comforting than food or more exhilarating and educational than travel. I share food, but never the travel snaps!
