Page 21 - BOSS Today Issue 18

60 second interview

the

next step

Sean Starkey is the new Vice Chair of BOSS:

Martin Wilde finds him in an enthusiastic mood….

MW: Congratulations on from professionally and socially to some, but the Standards SS: The industry is rapidly
your appointment as over many years. Committee is doing a vital job in changing: manufacturers and
Vice Chair of BOSS. an era which requires rich data, dealers are consolidating, which
MW: So what do you hope particularly due to e-commerce. means member numbers/
SS: Thanks! Yes, I became a to achieve in your time as membership could decline. So
non-Exec Director of BOSS five Vice Chair? MW: That’s today’s the main challenge is in getting
years ago, then in 2011 I took picture, but what new members and - as I’ve said -
over from Philip Beer as Chairman SS: Primarily to broaden our challenges do you see getting into new channels.
of the manufacturer forum. So appeal to potential new members, lying ahead for BOSS?
becoming Vice Chair last month not just within the traditional MW: So how can the OP
certainly looks like the next step! OP trade. We are seeing a lot of industry support BOSS?
new players coming in - the EOS
MW: So what do you see distributors, FM suppliers, PPE SS: Simple: join and get involved!
as your responsibilities in specialists - and BOSS needs to Many OP dealers are not
this new role? work with these, as well as with members and many members
the retailers, who in the past are not involved. The reseller
SS: Firstly supporting Alan Ball, have been under-represented forum needs strong support at
the Chairman. Then, assisting with within the Federation. I want to present. This is an especially good
the activities of the manufacturer encourage our current members time for younger members to
and reseller forums, as well as to take advantage of the services get involved: as I said, BOSS is not
getting involved with a whole and support that BOSS offers: the the staid bunch that you might
host of committees, such as costs of employment lawyers and think: many of us on the Exec are
standards, property management, HR support can be eye-watering, actually pretty sprightly!
finance.... but BOSS makes these available
to members at little cost. I’m About MW: Finally - if you could
MW: Sounds like you’re also excited by the Young BOSS SeAn StArkey change one thing about
going to be busy! Why initiative: the recent conference the OP industry, what
did you agree to take all was great, but we now need to Sean Starkey has been would it be?
immersed in the OP
this on? build some longevity into this. industry ever since he
left university - that’s SS: There are so many things! If
SS: Because it’s an exciting new MW: So you believe that some 26 years - having I must pick only one it would be
challenge! In years gone by, BOSS has a lot to offer the started with Reed our susceptibility to the austerity
BOSS may have appeared to industry today? International (Spicers’ programme and government
some as a little staid and without parent company at cuts: whilst a necessity in many
teeth, but the merger with BPIF SS: Absolutely! Apart from the that time) and then cases, they are neither helpful to
and the outsourcing of some legal and HR support, BOSS moved on to “cut my nor healthy for our industry.
teeth in manufacturing
services have changed its nature also offers free or very low cost for a few years with
considerably. I’m looking forward networking events, such as the Acco”. For the last six Martin Wilde is Managing Director
to working with a fantastic team CEO Conference and Awards years he has been of OP market research specialists
at BOSS and - I know this sounds Dinner. There’s the amazing job Managing Director of Martin Wilde Associates Ltd
trite - to giving something back that the Benevolent Fund does. Durable UK. (www.martinwildeassociates.com)
to an industry that I’ve benefited And, it may seem unappealing

July/August 2013 | BOSS TODAY 21

p21.indd 3 25/07/2013 15:33