Issue 7 2023 Featuring: Cloen: Introducing The Future
Welcome to the July 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. As always, CEO Monthly is dedicated to providing the latest news and features across the business world to our readership. By sharing knowledge, insights, expertise, and success stories from around the globe, we aim to inspire individuals and promote positivity in a world that is in a constant state of evolution. This month we are yet again celebrating the fantastic achievements of CEOs from across a plethora of industries. From energy services to civil engineering, security providers to animal health and welfare solutions, and much more, our seventh issue of the year addresses a wide range of issues while presenting the keys to success. The CEOs of the businesses within this issue have truly unlocked their potential, so that we can all reap the benefits. They are shining examples of how to lead the way for a more sustainable, secure, healthy, and advanced future – no matter what industry we work in. Being a leader takes courage, direction, focus, ad drive, and our winners are showcased for their sheer talent and dedication to helping their business – and the world – flourish for many years to come. Here at CEO Monthly we wish you a prosperous and strong month ahead, and we look forward to welcoming you back again for our August issue. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. DC Data Castle GmbH: Let’s Make Tech Human 7. Totally ADR Ltd: Legal Advice and Solutions From a Brand You Can Trust 8. Cloen: Introducing The Future 9. Asigra: Eric Simmons: Leading Asigra to Pioneer the Backup Space 10. AD Vertical Future: Most Influential AgriTech CEO of the Year 2023 - England 11. Crossover Solutions Cl Inc.: Saying ‘Yes’ to the Customer 12. Lactalis Canada: Leading By Example 14. nonplusultra Sales GmbH: Leading Inspiring Brands to Success 16. MattressNextDay Ltd: Senior Sleep Expert - Martin Seeley 17. Retaining talent through cultural alignment Contents
NEWS Bolt Data Welcomes Karen Mehal as Senior Vice President of Customer Success
Jack Fordi joins Naylor Association Solutions as chief revenue officer, bringing extensive expertise in digital media, events and association services to drive revenue growth and client relationships. Naylor Association Solutions, a leading provider of innovative association tools and services that strengthen member engagement and increase non-dues revenue, has announced that Jack Fordi has been appointed as the new chief revenue officer (CRO) of Naylor effective June 26th. “I am honored to join Naylor and contribute to its growth journey. The company has established itself as an industry leader through its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and delivering outstanding solutions,” said Jack Fordi, CRO of Naylor. “I look forward to working with the talented team at Naylor to drive revenue growth, strengthen customer relationships and capture new market opportunities.” Fordi comes to Naylor with over 20 years of experience in digital media, events, association services, SaaS and platform sales. Fordi is charged with overall revenue achievement, deepening client relationships, association partnerships, revenue diversification and leading revenue operations across Naylor. Prior to joining Naylor, Fordi held the position of chief revenue officer with Observer Media whose assets include Commercial Observer and Observer.com, along with producing premium content in digital, print and more than 30 events each year. Prior to that, Fordi was senior vice president for Questex, a $100M B2B global business information company where he chaired the revenue committee and grew group revenues over 400 percent. Fordi’s professional journey also includes his roles as vice president of sales and operations for SmartBrief and vice president at Intralinks. “We are thrilled to welcome Jack Fordi as our new CRO at Naylor Association Solutions,” said Christine Shaw, president and CEO of Naylor. “His track record of driving revenue growth and his ability to build and inspire high-performing sales teams make him an invaluable addition to our leadership team. With his expertise and B2B media experience, we are confident in our ability to further accelerate our growth and deliver exceptional value to our customers. Thank you to Koller Search Partners for helping find such a great fit for Naylor.” Naylor Association Solutions Announces the Appointment of New CRO Jack Fordi Bolt Data Appoints Karen Mehal as SVP of Customer Success, Strengthening Industry Partnerships and Driving Growth Bolt Data, a leading consultancy and software company specializing in Salesforce and ServiceMax solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Mehal as the Senior Vice President of Customer Success. With almost 30 years of experience, brings a wealth of service CRM expertise and industry knowledge to the Bolt Data team. Throughout her career, Mehal has worked across various industries, including utilities, consumer business services, manufacturing, consumer products, professional services, health and life sciences, and communications. Her extensive background includes transformation strategy, project management, product management, and solving intricate customer needs by leveraging two decades of domestic and international Service CRM experience. “We are thrilled to have Karen Mehal join our team as the Senior Vice President of Customer Success,” said Rob Meredith, CEO of Bolt Data. “Her extensive industry experience and deep understanding of Salesforce will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities and help Bolt Data deliver transformative solutions and services to our customers. Mehal’s strategic vision and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our channel alliances, expanding our market presence, and driving continued growth for Bolt Data and our clients.” Prior to joining Bolt Data, Mehal served as the Vice President of Field Service Product Success at Salesforce, where she played a vital role in driving the fast growth of Salesforce Field Service, a field service management software platform. Within her first three years, Salesforce Field Service achieved remarkable growth, surpassing $100 million in revenue and becoming the fastest-growing product in Salesforce history. Her contributions to Salesforce established her as a respected voice in the industry and a driving force behind customers’ success. Karen Mehal’s impressive background also includes tenure at renowned companies such as Accenture, GE and Capgemini. She is widely recognized as a field service subject matter expert, providing invaluable insights and sharing best practices with industry leaders and professionals worldwide.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 6 ATA CASTLE is currently developing large colocation and hyperscale data centres all across Germany, including 25 MVA (mega volt amps) in Frankfurt and 40 MVA in Berlin. It has more projects in the pipeline across the DACH (Deutschland, Austria, Confederation Helvetica) Germanspeaking region, including another 90 MVA project in the Frankfurt region. Dr. Christopher Stief is the Co-Founder and CEO of DATA CASTLE, which is a joint venture of US investment firm Angelo Gordon and, since 2023, also TPG Capital. Over the previous year DATA CASTLE has seen an increasing level of interest from companies within the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, as well as those involved in high performance computing (HPC). As these companies require huge amounts of power, DATA CASTLE is an attractive data centre operator, particularly due to its green data centre credentials and approach. In essence, its USP is its sustainable approach, which makes a huge difference for AI and HPC firms, and also for the end customers using their applications. DATA CASTLE’s green data centre approach includes the use of cuttingedge waste heat utilisation concepts, as well as green energy usage, solar panel usage, green facades, and the like. With a company slogan proclaiming, ‘Let’s make tech human again’, DATA CASTLE Let’s Make Tech Human German company DATA CASTLE is a green data centre platform that utilises cutting-edge approaches to energy use. As its co-founder Dr. Christopher Stief has recently been announced as the recipient of Most Influential CEO 2023 - DACH Region (Data Centers), we took the opportunity to find out a little more. is determined to put its employees at the very centre of everything it does. It believes that data centres need to be designed, developed, and built with the focus very much on the daily human operations. It thinks of it as both a responsibility and goal to give all its employees the opportunity to succeed. It wants them to be able to find the best ways of working together as a team, to achieve targets, and to become an industry leading commodity. DATA CASTLE’s award-winning CEO Dr. Christopher Stief earned his doctoral degree (PhD) in business administration from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Alliant University of San Diego, California. He started off his working career in Strategic Development at Amazon, but by 2022 the time was ripe for him to co-found DATA CASTLE, and begin leading it as Chief Executive Officer. Christopher is a well-known and respected data centre expert with a proven track record from large colocation- and hyperscale developments to aggregate more than 250 MW, primarily across Tier 1 and Tier 2 European data centre markets. Previously, Christopher had been a Senior Director at a leading family office in Germany, where he had been commercially responsible for data centre site origination, development, and execution of the firm’s digital infrastructure fund. He also has prior work under his belt as an Executive Project Manager through to CEO at e-shelter (NTT Global Data Centers EMEA), a leading international data centre operator, where he focused on site identification and development. Under Christopher’s expert guidance, DATA CASTLE continues to progress along its pathway to becoming THE green data centre platform of choice in Germany. Maximising digital traction with its secure server housing sited at key locations in the DACH region. DATA CASTLE is where the very best of technology and top-drawer service are united in application. Under the direction of CEO Christopher Stief, it really can’t go wrong. Company: DC Data Castle GmbH Web Address: https://data-castle.de/en/ Contact Name: Christopher Stief May23012 D
Mar22259 Legal Advice and Solutions From a Brand You Can Trust Craig Johnson is the CEO at Totally ADR, a family law consulting firm with offices in London, Kent, and Canterbury. As the winner of Most Influential CEO 2023 – Kent (Dispute Resolution), we thought it was high time to find out a little more about Craig’s award-winning expertise. As the Director of Totally ADR, Craig Johnson is an accomplished legal professional who has built a sterling reputation in the legal industry through his diverse and successful career as a Senior Paralegal. Most notably, Craig is one of the only paralegals who routinely takes on cases against Silks (barristers of the King’s Counsel), which is reflective of his unwavering dedication and confidence in advocating for clients. His extensive expertise and commitment to his work has not gone unnoticed. In 2022 he was awarded the prestigious Lawyer Monthly Mediation Lawyer of the Year for his work in the field of mediation. This accolade followed his earlier recognition in 2021, when he won the National Paralegal Awards for Family Law Paralegal of the Year. Such industry recognitions underscore Craig’s significant contributions to the legal field, and his unparalleled dedication to client service. Craig’s career in family law was initiated in 2019, and since that time he has exhibited an exceptional dedication in assisting over 500 clients with their family court proceedings. He frequently participates in High Court matters and is often seen before High Court Judges in the Royal Courts of Justice, managing affairs related to international relocation and contact. Craig is known for his professional ethos in family law, where he strives to always achieve the best possible resolution for his clients, while maintaining realistic expectations. His robust preparation and insightful advice for resolving family disputes set him apart from his contemporaries. “Craig Johnson stands out in his field as one of the few Senior Paralegals willing to engage in cases against Silks, barristers of the King’s Counsel. This willingness to challenge even the most seasoned legal professionals is a testament to Craig’s confidence, proficiency, and unwavering commitment to his clients’ best interests. His courage in confronting such high-stakes situations further solidifies his status as a dedicated and formidable force within the legal realm.” - Lawyer Monthly 2022 Craig specialises in handling challenging proceedings that involve serious allegations of abuse, parental alienation, sexual, physical, emotional, financial, and coercive control. His competence has earned him Rights of Audience as a Lay Advocate in numerous Finding of Fact Hearings, and even in the Royal Court of Justice where he has been involved in International Child Abduction cases. In the realm of child maintenance, Craig has proven his mettle as a Lay Advocate before the CMS Tribunals, adeptly handling claims under the Child Support Act 1991. He excels in Regulation 50 arguments, and advising on undisclosed income. He brings a nuanced understanding of child maintenance advocacy within the CMS Tribunals. With a thriving practice in Children Act matters, Craig skilfully assists clients in private cases involving child relocation, safeguarding issues, and allegations of abuse. His case management skills play a crucial role in handling complex legal and factual issues. As a conciliator, Craig offers expert legal opinions and dispute resolution strategies, assisting parties to reach resolutions in a confidential mediated environment. His broad experience covers Civil, Corporate, Family, and Workplace disputes. Craig’s expertise extends to all areas of divorce and financial remedy applications. He handles cases involving highvalue assets, complex business structures, family trusts, and assets outside of the jurisdiction. He is also well-versed in nonmatrimonial finances such as TOLATA applications, cohabitation cases, civilpartnership issues, and Schedule-1 claims. As a CMC Registered Mediator in Civil & Commercial Mediation, Craig brings a forward-focused approach to resolving disputes. His belief in the power of open conversations is at the core of his successful mediation practice. Furthermore, Craig is proficient in Family Law Act applications, such as non-molestation orders and occupation orders. His experience in preparing urgent applications and presenting them effectively in court ensures the best possible outcomes for his clients. In the Small Claims Court, Craig’s expertise as a County Court Advocate and Paralegal is evident in his handling of matters like money and debt, landlord and tenant, housing disrepair, and breach of contract. Craig’s skills as a legal consultant are widely recognised, with his written submissions and case research often described as compelling and persuasive. His pragmatic advice, combined with a readiness to face challenges, speaks volumes about his extensive experience in proceedings at all levels up to the High Court. Company: Totally ADR Ltd Web: www.totallyadr.com Contact: Craig Johnson May23199
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 8 May23250 Are you tired of having no counter space in your kitchen? Do you have an overwhelming amount of cables but not enough plug sockets? Is cleaning your kitchen something you dread? Cloen’s wireless-powered appliances offer a solution to these problems while elevating the look of your kitchen. Its patented Cloen Cordless Technology is interated into induction hobs and creates a double-function system, where users will be able to use it for cooking and to transmit electricity that Revolutionising the industry of home products, Cloen is a technology company that specialises in the development, manufacturing of wireless household appliances. Here we take a closer look as its CEO, Pablo Cerra is recognised in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023. powers Cloen’s appliances. This only takes place when there is contact between the hob and the appliance so there are no dangers involved, making it possible to have a kitchen free of cables which not only provides users with a cleanlooking kitchen but also offers a safe experience. The magic happens with a CCT Protocol (Cloen Cordless Technology) - Communication system, algorithmic optimization of induction stoves and wireless energy transfer for household appliances. Cloen induction cookers, unique in the market, have an electronic processor designed and programmed exclusively to improve power consumption making them a product where for the first time smart consumption is safeguarded for our customers. Cloen was founded with the goal of promoting innovation and technological development to facilitate people’s day-to-day lives. Additionally, because it is replacing the use of lithium, it has a positive impact on the planet while encouraging the use of a cleaner alternative. Finding solutions that are more efficient for our busy everyday lives, while also protecting the planet we live on, is a great opportunity to advance collectively. The introduction of these innovative products has shaken the industry and we are witnessing the start of an evolution of products that will no longer need cables or batteries to function. Can you imagine a home with this technology installed throughout? An office without cables? Thanks to Pablo and his team the future is merging with our present. Pablo believes that each of his employees plays a very important role within Cloen, from logistics to engineering to the marketing team, each department is vital to help direct the company’s success. He takes the time to listen and empathise with his employees and involves them in each project to deliver the best products possible. Technology advances are constantly changing which means the team at Cloen stays up to date with the shifts to apply the advances into its products. As a trailblazer in the industry, Pablo Cerra has been awarded the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 – Valencia. “It is true that a company’s success is not based on the CEO or its founders but on all the people who make up the team” highlights Pablo as he believes the credit isn’t all his. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Cloen as Pablo continues to lead his team to deliver state-of-the-art technology for its clients’ homes. Contact: Pablo Esteban Cerra Company: Cloen Web Address: www.cloen.es Introducing The Future
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 9 Eric Simmons: Leading Asigra to Pioneer the Backup Space Headquartered in Toronto, Asigra is an award-winning agentless enterprise cloud backup and recovery platform that proactively hunts ransomware, helping companies secure their data. Since November 2021, the company has been led by CEO Eric Simmons, who aims to drive innovation and thought leadership by instilling a culture of inspiration within his team. For this reason, Eric has been named Canada’s Most Influential CEO in the Backup Software space. Like many companies, Asigra was founded to solve a problem. In 1986, Founder David Farajun was programming when he suddenly lost his work. The IT team could not recover the lost data, and he was unable to find a third-party solution. This inspired David to create Asigra to provide backup and recovery services for businesses. Since then, the company has accomplished this goal successfully. Over the years, ransomware attacks have become increasingly sophisticated. Cybercriminals know that the only thing standing between them and their victim’s willingness to pay is their ability to recover their data. For this reason, criminals now target their backups. Asigra is dedicated to creating innovative solutions in order to continue protecting its partners’ and their customers’ data. With a highly unique and industryleading Deep-6 Security stack, the company is spearheading the integration of backup and cybersecurity. The six core elements of the Deep-6 Security model are bi-directional anti-malware scanning, Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology, Deep Multi-Person Authentication (MFA), variable repository naming, soft delete, and FIPS 140-2 Encryption. During his extensive career, Eric Simmons has progressed through the ranks from sales representative positions to CEO roles. In 2021, he took on the role of CEO of Asigra, where he aims to instil an organisational culture of inspiration, further the company’s thought leadership, and create and launch new products that address key market challenges. Ultimately, he strives to ensure that Asigra is always the most secure backup vendor on the market. Having worked in numerous managerial positions, Eric has continuously sought ways in which he could improve his methods of leadership. He has always strived to create diverse teams of employees who leverage their individual strengths and support each other’s weaknesses. As well as this, he has come to understand the importance of motivation, so he aims to provide his team members with a broader sense of purpose. This transforms a seemingly meaningless day-to-day job into an important role that serves a higher purpose. More recently, Eric has also come to value inspiration in his leadership. With the assistance of Lance Secretan, a world-renowned inspirational coach, Eric has been able to instil a culture of inspiration within his teams. He carefully considers whether or not his actions are inspirational, both professionally and as a human being. This has built an incredible level of trust, transparency, and care within the business. Each team member treats their colleagues with the utmost dignity and respect, enabling them to do great work together and enjoy every moment. Asigra’s leadership team hold monthly meetings in which they discuss how they can maintain this outstanding organisational culture. As a result of his innovation, inspiration, and commitment to the industry, Eric Simmons has been awarded Most Influential CEO (Backup Software) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023. With regards to the future, Eric is excited to announce the upcoming launch of a new differentiated product created by the Asigra team. Most companies are unaware of how difficult, costly, and time-consuming it can be to recover data from a SaaS application. Many SaaS vendors follow the AWS shared responsibility model, which states that they are not responsible for access, identity, and customer data. Vendors often recommend the use of a third-party backup provider. Asigra has worked to address this key market challenge by building a platform that backs up a multitude of SaaS applications through a comprehensive dashboard. Today, Asigra backs up M365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. Soon, the company will back up dozens, then hundreds, of SaaS applications. It anticipates that this will be a huge trend in the backup space but that it will be challenging for companies to master, giving Asigra a useful head start. We congratulate Eric on his success in this year’s Most Influential CEO Awards programme and wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavours. Contact: Eric Simmons Company: Asigra Web: www.asigra.com May23219
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 10 Most Influential AgriTech CEO of the Year 2023 - England For further information about Vertical Future and our services contact us using the form on our website. Vertical Future https://verticalfuture.com Feb23218
Mar22259 Saying ‘Yes’ to the Customer Acting as an advisory services firm that delivers seasoned OEM and Tier 1 Personnel to a wide variety of clients, Crossover Solutions already has over 1,200 associates and partner resources worldwide. It places an immense focus on providing timely, efficient, and effective solutions for a range of companies, from the automotive and aerospace industries to the pharmaceutical sphere. And at the helm of its operations is CEO Paul LaCroix, who has recently earned the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 - Canada (Management Consulting). As a result of his extensive experience, Paul has become a master of what it means to operate alongside OEMs to provide results that suit each individual client. With a lengthy background in corporate finance and deals, he’s had the unique opportunity of managing almost $23B in M&A. This has equipped him with the expertise to direct Crossover Solutions as its Founder and CEO, although Crossover Solutions isn’t the only company under his watch. In conjunction with Crossover Solutions, Paul also holds the positions of CEO and Founding Partner at two other companies. This, along with more than 30 years of leading and guiding strategies, has granted Paul with a vast skillset that’s served him well in his endeavours with Crossover Solutions. In addition to this wealth of experience, Paul is also a Queen’s University MBA with a Valuation and Strategy certification from Harvard and was recognised by the Markham Board of Trade as Entrepreneur of the Year for 2019. This all culminates in an incredibly talented individual who has a solid grasp on the intricacies that partner the industry. He’s able to recognise trustworthy clients and always avoids greed-based decisions throughout the company. Instead, Paul actively promotes healthy value creation for all stakeholders and feels it essential for customers, associates, and the company alike to resonate with these values. Crossover Solutions is a company built on relationships, but what makes it unique is the partners’ determination to always say ‘yes’ to the client, and then proceed to do everything that was initially promised. By design, the Crossover team is geared towards being their best selves, all whilst serving customers and delivering on promises no matter the circumstances. Paul feels this is the best way to establish and protect the meaningful connections that’ll last throughout the company’s lifetime, and he is acutely aware that this trust between company and client is the key to success. Paul is an adaptable person with an impressive background in the industry, and yet he doesn’t let this dampen the understanding that exists between him and his colleagues. He fosters an environment of respect and leads by example. And he still manages to encourage fun within the workplace, whilst his team work to uplift the company alongside him. Crossover Solutions is a flourishing company that’s growing at an astounding rate, and Paul believes their experience helping other organizations quickly and efficiently scale up has helped immensely and acts as one of the greatest strengths of the business. Paul stands for the best of Crossover Solutions, and with his intrinsic talent for management, it’s clear to see why he now holds the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 - Canada (Management Consulting). Contact: Lesley Penderis Email: [email protected] Company: Crossover Solutions Web: https://xosol.com/ May23624
Leading By Example
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 13 May23431 With over 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canada produces nutritious and great-tasting dairy products to enrich and nurture the lives of Canadians. Recently, its President and CEO, Mark Taylor, has been recognised in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023. Here we take a closer look to learn more about the company and Mark’s leadership approach. The food we consume has a direct impact on our health and wellbeing. Therefore, consuming products of high quality is important to reap the benefits of nutrients that can improve our efficiency and well-being. That is where Lactalis Canada comes in, throughout the years it has not lost sight of its purpose which is “To Enrich and Nurture the Lives of Canadians.” Lactalis Canada works with Canada’s major grocery retailers, independent grocers, customers in the food service, and further food processing sector. It has strong relationships with its customer base and Lactalis Canada takes the time to understand their needs and works to align with them. Thanks to their common goal of meeting the needs of Canadian consumers, they are able to deliver products that people not only enjoy but go back to time and time again. A company that truly cares about its consumers is one you can trust. Since 2018, Mark Taylor has been the leader behind Lactalis Canada’s iconic brands – Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Astro, Lactantia, Beatrice, Galbani, and many more. He has over 30 years of experience in CPG, with a speciality in the dairy category through leadership roles across the supply chains, from farm to consumer. Prior to relocating to Canada, Mark was Group Managing Director Lactalis UK and Ireland from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, he served as Chair of the Board of Directors of UK-based Muddy Boots Software Limited and was also a board member of Zenith International Consulting in the UK focused on M&A and international business. Mark has played a crucial role in driving Lactalis Canada’s growth and implanted changes that have led to significant success within the brands. In 2019, Mark led the CDN $1.62 billion acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s natural cheese business which is the biggest of its kind in Canadian dairy history. This was then followed by the acquisition of Ultima Foods Inc. from Agropur and, in 2021, the Kraft Heinz Grated cheese business in Canada. Mark shares, “Today, Lactalis Canada is the third largest country by turnover in Lactalis Group, thirdlargest branded CPG manufacturer in Canada and has been consistently named on Forbes’ list of Canada’s Best Employers.” As a Board Director for the Dairy Processors Association of Canada, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada, and chair of The Grocery Foundation’s Donation Committee, Mark is a prominent figure in the industry. On top of this, in 2023, he was appointed as a cabinet member of the largest youth mental health movement in Canada, The Feel Out Loud with Kids Help Phone Campaign. Making a positive impact on causes he believes in is something he makes time for, no matter how busy he may be. Mark’s hard work over the years has paid off, and his extensive experience is a reflection of his commitment. He has recently been honoured with the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 – Toronto. Throughout his journey to his current position, he has faced many challenges, but overcoming this has provided him with the knowledge that he implements into his leadership role. When dealing with problems, whether personal or professional Mark believes they are always easier to solve when they are shared. He highlights, “Having a great team around you is therefore essential. I have been lucky to have worked and be working with great people. This is a privilege I do not take lightly and like any relationship requires a personal investment to make sure it flourishes.” At Lactalis Canada, he prioritises his team and believes they are the company’s biggest asset. “Helping people to understand why they are important and how they contribute to the higher-level goals of the organization by nurturing, supporting, and serving them is not an option for modern leaders; it’s an imperative.” Lactalis Canada is currently in a transformative period and the support from the team makes this a possibility – they are who work behind the scenes to help bring everything together. With over 4,000 team members Lactalis Canada believes each of them has an important voice and role within the organisation. Mark prioritises open communication with his team, and it allows him to build a more dynamic flexible, and responsive business where people feel they belong. Alongside this, he shares responsibility and knowledge while mentoring and coaching his employees to support their growth and development towards reaching their full potential. The ability to understand different perspectives is an important aspect of leading a company towards success. Mark sees his role as a leader as working for his employees, this enables him to consider each individual and work to create an environment where all can succeed. By aligning with people and their goals, both professional and personal, it enables him to lead Lactalis Canada accordingly. The individual success of his team is what drives the collective wins he has been able to accomplish since joining the company in 2018. A business is “an ecosystem not an autocracy”, adds Mark. Being open to change and evolution is the key to staying on top of the company you run and lead forward. This is why Mark is open to honest and constructive feedback from his team as it reveals opportunities to improve. For this to take place you must first work to build a foundation where respect and trust are present regardless. Hard conversations always lead to incredibly rewarding destinations, especially when you’ve got a fantastic group of individuals alongside you. Mark concludes, “I look forward to continuing to serve in a capacity where I can make a positive impact in my position.” We look forward to seeing Lactalis Canada grow as Mark continues to lead it towards success. Contact: Mark Taylor Company: Lactalis Canada Web Address: https://www.lactalis.ca/
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 14 Leading Inspiring Brands to Success Munich-based company nonplusultra’s team of experts enable success for commercial enterprises across all channels, turning clients’ visions into measurable results. The company has been awarded the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 – Germany (Retail Acceleration), in the light of which we decided to take a closer look. he German company nonplusultra exists primarily to enable tech-brands to scale up to European retail levels. It operates within a proven framework of growth and cutting-edge technology, building the right strategy to address the vital retail touchpoints of tomorrow. Its high-flying team secure executional excellence to turn clients’ company visions into measurable, results-driven successes. Its services include market entry; strategic growth management; retail activation; business intelligence; marketplaces and eTail. The company’s 2 founders and co-CEOs, Benjamin Gehring and Florian Hutterer, act as key team members and drivers of nonplusultra’s core values. These are services it bears in mind when recruiting new team members, and hiring/firing staff. It lives by the following values, kicking off with taking the lead - as it is a proactive company that owns its business. It also believes that data builds opinion – by which it means its arguments are based on observations, not assumptions. The third value is go where the pain is – by which it means it actively faces challenges in order to keep growing. Next up is the assertion that trust forms loyalty – as it believes acting with care helps to build long-lasting partnerships. The final value is to spread good vibes – because the company thinks it is important that each individual does not take him / herself too seriously. Benjamin explained to us that aside from an internship, he has never worked for a company other than nonplusultra. This means that he has very much relied on creating his own leadership style, often by observing and acting on the best practices of customers, suppliers, business partners and well-known authors. In Benjamin’s opinion, there are infinite ways to adapt and learn leadership skills. For instance, the company was requiring of very different leadership when there were only 3 people, as opposed to 15. Currently nonplusultra has over 50 persons working, but Benjamin is under no illusions that his leadership style might have to change on the way to growing to 100 people. Benjamin and Florian recently wrote down their personal leadership principles so that they might share this useful information with senior management. The points they wanted to impart were as follows: leaders eat last; a juncture inspired by British-born American author Simon Sinek. It means that it is essential to listen to everyone in the room and let them fully share their opinions without jumping in. It is better not to jump ahead, but to speak last. The second point Benjamin and Florian emphasize is to deliver immediate feedback. This was inspired by another best-selling author, Kim Scott, and follows her counsel not to wait until the next quarterly review, or yearly feedback meeting to give either positive or negative feedback. Do it straight away. The next guidance Benjamin and Florian felt it was important to impart was to walk the talk. By this they mean be the change you want to see. This time, they were influenced by entrepreneur and CEO Frank Slootman, and clarify by explaining that if you want your team to perform, you need to show how performance is done. This does not mean that you need to be the best salesperson in the sales team, but you need to show how it is done, create the right strategies and ensure that everyone is in the right position and enabled to be their best. It is the same May23295 T with football coaches, the best football coaches have not always been the best football players themselves, but they can walk the talk. A further important goal for nonplusultra is to become THE one-stop-shop for tech-brands to unlock European omnichannel retail. It offers services such as market entry, business development, outsourced key account management, e Tail management, channel marketing, field sales and marketing, merchandising, promotion, retail analytics and retail as a service. And the unique part of this service portfolio is that there is currently no one in Europe who offers everything under one roof. This is the aim for nonplusultra. Clients mostly arrive at We want our leaders to be coaches, not problem solvers. “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 15 nonplusultra through word of mouth, or perhaps via trade shows like CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas, or IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) in Berlin. As the most data driven company in the consumer electronics fields, it tracks every single sale from retailers, as well as stock, sales out allowances, trainings as well as marketing and POS spendings. This enables it to analyse the ROI (return on investment) for its customers on macro level, on country level, or even down to micro level at the stores. As a retail growth agency specialising in omni-channel solutions, and focused on consumer electronic retail, nonplusultra has identified and continues to anticipate several industry-based challenges. By investing strategically in the sector, it aims to address these challenges and ensure efficient and sustainable scaling for consumer electronic brands in Europe. Some of the specific challenges it is currently facing, and expects to encounter in the near future, include the following: increasing competition; as the retail and eTail landscape is a highly competitive world, with numerous players vying for market share, nonplusultra continuously monitors and analyses the competitive landscape to identify emerging trends, and stay ahead of the competition. Shifting consumer behaviour; as consumer preferences and behaviours evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and changes in shopping habits. The company needs to adapt and anticipate such shifts to be able to provide personalised and seamless experiences across various channels. Digital transformation; as the retail industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, with online sales and e-commerce platforms playing an increasingly important role, nonplusultra needs to stay up to date with the latest digital technologies, optimise online presence, and leverage data-driven insights to drive growth for consumer electronic brands. In addition, the supply chain and logistics requires efficiency, and especially broadline distribution management. This is critical in the retail industry when dealing with consumer electronics, and nonplusultra strives to optimise the logistics and distribution processes to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of products across Europe. Finally, there is the challenge of regulatory compliance; with retail operations being subject to various regulations and compliance requirements, it needs to stay up to date with evolving rules such as data protection and consumer rights. It is essential to mitigate legal risks for nonplusultra to maintain trust with its clients and their customers. By addressing all these challenges, the company aims to position itself as a leading retail growth agency in Europe, helping consumer electronic brands navigate the complexities of the industry and achieve long-term, efficient scaling through its omni-channel approach. The future is bright for award winning nonplusultra, who have recently been acquired by international brand experience agency Avantgarde Group. This brings immense benefits to the company, enabling it to expand into new markets outside Europe. It is also a strategic collaboration, showing just how far Benjamin Gehring and Florian Hutterer have gone in building a company that not only creates value for international consumer electronic brands, but also generates a healthy revenue, and attracts the attention of a well-known marketing group. It’s onwards and upwards now for this terrific company. Company: nonplusultra Sales GmbH Web: www.nonplusultra.eu Contact: Benjamin Gehring
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 16 Senior Sleep Expert - Martin Seeley Following 20 years of industry experience and an ambitious endeavour into the world of mattress sales and distribution, Martin Seeley has become the leading CEO in all things bedding. Through a combination of management prowess and a fun-loving, easy-going attitude towards teamwork, Martin has made a name for himself as the Most Influential CEO 2023 - UK (Bedding Products). Join us as we delve into how Martin came to live his dream, whilst organising a company that’s set on ensuring that everyone gets a good night’s sleep. Since he and his father founded MattressNextDay (MND), Martin has consistently adhered to the core values that he established upon taking up the mantle of CEO. His practises follow a ‘work hard, but keep it simple’ mindset, and it’s this attitude that has played a huge role in the success of both Martin and his company. Through narrowing down his priorities and focusing on the aspects that allow MND to truly flourish, he’s established a simple, yet effective, management style geared towards business success. Of course, Martin was quick to realise that it takes an intense amount of hard work and dedication in order to make ‘simple’ work. However, he didn’t let this come between him and his drive to reduce overcomplication, despite the drastic changes that have impacted the mattress and bed industry throughout the past 20 years. Martin has taken every alteration in his stride, and the result is a thriving company that unites simplicity and quality to deliver a wide range of products to a popular market, no matter the budget. When we spoke with Martin about the role of his staff within the company, he had this to say: “The team we have in place now is by far the strongest we’ve ever had. We’re a close, easy-going bunch with the drive, skills, and commitment to create the perfect cocktail of talent”. Though Martin is incredibly close with his team, this is only made possible through the absolute trust and faith that he has in them. He rejects the concept of micromanaging, and encourages his team to drive the company as a result of their exceptional judgement. What we believe makes Martin a truly noteworthy CEO is his complete faith in the people around him. He consistently expresses that he’s surrounded by the best people imaginable, and details how his position of CEO is as strong as it is through the connections that he’s made with his team. MND is comprised of individuals who effortlessly mesh together, and the result is an environment where employee and CEO work harmoniously to uplift the company to new heights. As a result of this undeniable cohesion, MND has very exciting plans for the near future that Martin has shared with us. It’s thanks to the success of the company that Martin has been given the opportunity to construct a custom-built showroom and office in Herne Bay, and the business is already in the process of making this dream a reality. Martin expresses that he’s eager to finally have a physical space for customers to visit, where a selection of MND’s bestselling mattresses will be available to view in all their glory. This advancement presents all new opportunities for the business, and allows both Martin and his employees to connect with customers on a far more personal level. The space has been fully designed with clients in mind, and will serve as an additional means of uniting individuals with the best possible choice for them. And with MND’s new office boasting an open plan, Martin hopes that enhanced department communication will become an overarching factor throughout the team. We’re very excited to see how MND has developed throughout its years, and how Martin has driven the company towards such massive success. However, the development of its all-new showroom is something that we’re eagerly anticipating. If you’d like to acquaint yourself with some of the country’s best mattresses when MattressNextDay’s new showroom is finally accessible to the public, you can follow its socials for updates, and even subscribe to its mailing list to be the first to know when its doors open. The services that MND provides are nothing short of exemplary, but none of it would be possible without Martin’s overwhelming dedication towards the field. He pours his heart into everything he does, and by uniting his team through his trusting management approach, it’s easy to understand how Martin has come to earn the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 - UK (Bedding Products). Contact: Martin Seeley Company: MattressNextDay Ltd Web Addresses: www.mattressnextday.co.uk www.mattressnextday.co.uk/ bedding www.mattressnextday.co.uk/ snooze-news/author/ martin-seeley May23724
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2023 17 Mar22259 Retaining talent through cultural alignment The pandemic has significantly shifted people’s mindsets when it comes to their careers and career direction. For example, the trend of “quiet quitting” is one of many that was born from the pandemic, where employees lack enthusiasm about their career and mentally step back. This is often a direct result of no longer feeling passionate about their role or feeling their personal and company values do not align. As post pandemic behaviors embed, it is important to look again at what we do and why when it comes to recruiting and retaining those who will help our businesses to thrive and grow. Selecting the right candidate for a specific role holds immense significance, but success goes beyond recruitment. It encompasses retaining the right person for the job, someone who wants to remain, progress, and thrive in that role. So much so, it is no longer considered plausible for organizations to meet talent pools through traditional hiring methods, and it is more urgent than ever to rethink outdated assumptions around qualifications and focus on transferable skills and experience. While there is no universal remedy to building great teams, focusing efforts towards modernizing interview processes, accentuating the significance of cultural and values alignment, fostering a diverse workforce, and incorporating technology can all support the journey of matching great employees with great employers. Creating and fostering a diverse workplace Building diverse teams is integral to growth and success and, personally, I enjoy working in teams where I can learn and grow by having a variety of people and thoughts surrounding me. At Taulia one of our core values is Diversity Is How We Grow. This puts diversity right at the heart of how we are working and, while we don’t always get it right, we are focused on building teams that are empathetic, energetic and positively challenging. All with the aim of collaboration driving better outcomes for everyone involved. Diversity of gender, sex, race, age, disability, religion, thought, education and experience brings breadth of perspective and input to every team and the challenges they come together to tackle. Ultimately to ensure that we can build these teams, it is crucial to engage with a wide range of potential candidates before making hiring decisions. Widening the talent pool is an opportunity for us as a business and one our HR team is focused on to impact our success in this area. Incorporating technology into the mix Some might argue that in order to embrace a modern world, we must embrace modern technology. Technology can harness exceptionally good results when used appropriately. In the case of hiring, it can help eradicate any discrimination or unconscious bias in the early stages of the application process. It also has a fantastic ability to match skills with appropriate companies and in many cases can help write job descriptions that attract a broad range of applicants. However, we cannot exploit technology beyond our human means. As human beings we are immensely empathetic and have an innate sense of emotion, which technology does not, at least yet. So I believe we can’t replace the “human” in Human Resources and should only use technology as an enhancing asset in the hiring process, not as a replacement. Building personal connections throughout the recruitment process helps us as employees to really learn who candidates are, as well as helping them to get a good sense of who they could be working alongside everyday. This interpersonal contact helps us to really explain our culture and values and assess how candidates respond to those elements of our business and where there is or isn’t alignment. Our values as a cultural litmus test At Taulia we hold on tightly to our mission and values. They guide our decision making and help us to keep our business, as well as the motivation and energy of our people directed at our North Star. Having this clear sense of why we come together and how (guided by our values) enables us to clearly articulate this to potential candidates. This resonates beyond just Taulia’s walls, with two thirds (66%) of C-suite and board members saying that a distinctive culture is more important to performance than the organization’s strategy or operating model. I am really proud to hear from current employees at Taulia that our values were part of what attracted them to talk to us in the first place. If our values align with candidates before they are even through the door then we are a step closer to cultural alignment before things have even begun. The road ahead If there is one thing that the pandemic taught us, it is that flexibility is crucial. Hiring strategies must therefore reflect this and evolve to meet our new ways of working. Prioritizing cultural fit, aligning passions, embracing diversity, and adopting inclusive hiring practices are essential steps toward building successful teams. While technology and AI have their place in streamlining the process, they should complement, not replace, human interaction. By nurturing a workplace where values and passions align we can cultivate an environment that attracts the right talent, harnesses innovation, and drives future growth. May23624
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