Rob Beirne

What set you on the road to where you are now? 

I studied engineering in university and came out not knowing what I wanted to do, but knowing I didn't want to be an engineer. I came across a traineeship for something called "Google AdWords," and when I did some research on what that was, I thought it seemed like something I might be good at, so I applied. So I started my career in Wolfgang as a trainee who knew nothing, literally, and it's been an incredible place to learn and develop through the years.

As a co-owner, what does being part of an employee-owned trust actually mean to you?

I'm lucky enough to be on the board of our trust, so I get incredible insight into how the business is being run and how it's performing. Over the years, I've always loved how transparent the board have been with the employees and how much they've sought to empower us to help make the company better. There's always been a very strong feeling of trust there - no pun intended. 

So when the board brought the idea of employee ownership to us, it felt like a very natural next step. It's easy to lose sight of what a massive step it was because it feels like we've been operating as an employee-owned business for a long time, but it's now official! 

We use the phrase "skin in the game" a lot, and it sums it up really well - there's a direct connection between the great work everyone does on a day-to-day basis and the rewards of being employee owners through profit shares. It's an extra layer of motivation for us all to deliver world-class results & exceptional service to our clients.

You're dedicated to looking after the Wolfgang client experience. What's the difference between 'good' client service and a true long-term partnership? 

The most successful client relationships we've had over the years are the ones where we're not just delivering a service, but helping our clients understand their business better. I strongly believe that one of the key parts of our job is to challenge our clients and have difficult conversations when they're necessary to drive shared success in the long-term.

It's these long-term relationships we're always looking to build, as the better we understand a client's business, the better our strategy will be and the stronger the results. It all comes down to results at the end of the day, and it's our job to always be thinking of and planning for the long-term success of our clients.