Glass News February 2022: It’s all about you
Where you were born and live currently
I was born in Cork, Ireland and have lived there all my life.
Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled
I always had a good head for numbers and after leaving school I trained as a qualified accountant. I joined Freefoam as Financial Controller but I eventually moved towards the commercial side of the business. Tony Walsh, Freefoam Chairman has natural flair for the technical side of the business and we’ve found our different strengths complement each other perfectly.
Your favorite sports or interests
I’m a sports fanatic and I have a huge interest in Munster and Irish Rugby. Being from Cork, I have an obvious affinity with Gaelic Games which are part of our national identity.
I also enjoy cycling in my spare time. A few years ago, I cycled the length of Ireland, from Mizen Head in the South to Malin Head in the North. It was a challenge, but I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I finished.
Your biggest regret in life
Looking back, we could have been more ambitious for Freefoam in the early days. We were, perhaps, a little later than we should have been to make big business decisions. Maybe it was the accountant in me that didn’t allow me to be braver at times.
The temptation you can’t resist…
A great Italian meal. Whenever I go to London - for business or pleasure - I always try to book a table at Cecconi’s in Burlington Gardens. There’s a great buzz whatever time of the day you visit, and the food is always great.
Someone or something that inspires you
We’re fortunate to have a talented, dedicated team at Freefoam so I’d say my colleagues inspire me. In a broader business context, I have great admiration for what Bill Gates has achieved with Microsoft. It can’t be ignored that he created one of the largest companies in the world by market capitalisation. In obviously difficult circumstances, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continues to do so much to tackle poverty and improve healthcare around the world.
Your career
When and how you joined the industry
I joined Freefoam in 1993 as Financial Controller. We’re an independent manufacturer of roofline and rainwater systems, PVC cladding and interior wall panels. At that time, it was a small business with about 25 employees and a couple of extrusion lines supplying the Irish market. Freefoam expanded rapidly and now most of our sales come from the UK, France and other European countries.
The job you do
I became CEO of Freefoam in 2009. Since I joined Freefoam, we’ve grown to a team of 320 across Europe, with 14 extrusion lines in Cork and 18 lines in the UK. I’m based in our Cork head office but I take an active role in all of our markets. I’ve been unable to travel much over the past two years, but thanks to video calls and emails I’m still having regular catch-ups with the teams in production, operations, finance and sales to ensure I’m up-to-speed with all areas of the business.
Your greatest achievement
I am so proud of everything we’ve achieved at Freefoam. One of the best decisions we made was making a commitment to the UK market by investing in a modern, integrated manufacturing plant to include extrusion, mixing and distribution. This site in St. James, Northampton now has 18 extrusion lines for foam and rigid product and employs 160 people.
Our growth throughout Continental Europe is another great achievement for Freefoam. Around 10-15 years ago, we started to put a greater emphasis on these markets, and we now have a strong presence in France with continued growth in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. We have also broadened our core roofline offering with a growing cladding range in the UK and across Europe.
And your future
What would you like to do if you weren’t in this industry?
If I wasn’t so committed to Freefoam I could definitely see myself spending my time playing golf on the Costa del Sol. I enjoy a round of golf and it’s all the better in the sunshine!
A particular ambition
We’ve built the Freefoam brand around quality, product choice and customer service and we work closely with customers to give them the products they say they need to sell more in their markets. My ambition is to consolidate our position as the leading independent manufacturer to help customers grow. The past 18 months have been challenging for everyone, but our ethos is to continue to offer the best support and guidance to customers. With hard work and close partnership with customers, we’re confident about the future.
The way you want to be remembered
As someone who worked hard, was well-respected and made many friends in the industry along the way.
Featured in Glass News February 2022