The Essential Wizards of Business

Having entered the world of Sales in 1996, all bar the first 3 months when I was a "fishman with a difference", has been spent in B2B sales. I have been very fortunate to work in some great sales/customer focussed companies such as Xerox and BT Ireland amongst a few. In America the salesman is King but often on this side of the Atlantic that isn't always the case so as I listened to todays David McWilliams podcast (always thought provoking, entertaining & educational) where he references the salesman/woman as "the great lamented hero of business" and even better, #theessetialwizardsofbusines I skipped along the road with a spring in my step as I started to reflect back on some of those times and the journey to VisionID. I have been lucky to work with some exceptional Business leaders who came from a sales background such as John Purdy, Anne O'Leary, Andrew Collins, and today Robert Jones. So many soldiers along that path but few to match great sales warriors such as John Ryder, Andrew Miller, Patrick Sheehan, Garret O'Keeffe, Nicola Mortimer, Adrian Marron, Sean Doherty, Leo O'Leary and Keith McGovern! Some times we forget to say thanks, but to all of those above and many others, thank you, for your support & inspiration, I know I have left many out so apologies in advance. And lets never forgot those who are no longer here, Bill Murphy and Joe Nolan who really were legendary.

It's been an incredible year, one to fill many books, but never have I been as proud to work in sales, one where we had to adapt to so many changes, be it with customers, business partners, our working environment etc etc and as we enter the final weeks of our fiscal year, its such an honour to lead an exceptionally talented bunch of sales & marketing professionals. The phrase "criticise in private, praise in public" is always apt, but even more so now. To the best sales team there is, stand up, take a bow, and thanks! Gavin Smyth, Andrew Daly, Darren O'Donnell, Sarah O'Connell, Peter Brogle, Daire Quinn, Alan Condon, John Bosworth, Bronagh Barrett, Niamh Connolly, Lisa Gregory, Jean Phelan, Maria Farrell, Valerija Maluhina and Evan Quigley.