We spoke to Paul to find out more about him and his new role at Temple Knight.
Tell us about your career
My career started in IT Professional Services. I worked at one of Europe’s largest IT bureau’s providing mainframe computing power to various types of businesses. This included mainframe service such as payroll and professional services. We also provided mainframe power to many formula 1 teams 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week and 365 days of the year. We also maintained the British library database (BLASIE) which stored every book which had been written in English.
25 years ago, I made the move to Managed Print (or photocopiers as is was referred to back then). This was at a time when the industry was transitioning from analogue to digital, so my background stood me in good stead for what was to come. I spent my early years with the American giant IKON office solutions before moving on to a senior management role with the manufacture Konica Minolta. This was a particularly successful time as Konica had just released the ever popular Bizhub range, which everybody wanted to get their hands on.
After a number of years, I moved on to another manufacturer OCE as Regional Sales Director for London and the South East. In 2010, when Canon purchased OCE, I moved to various dealerships in a similar role. Then in the new decade of 2020, I’m pleased to say I find myself with the ever progressive and dynamic organisation Temple Knight, in the newly created role of Head of Sales & Business Development.
You’ve been in the industry for many years, what do you enjoy about it?
My love of the industry comes from the pace at which we have to compete. You need to be certain type of person to succeed in this industry, you need to be resilient and as they say in football terms you need ‘bouncebackability’. (Yes, I’ve been reliably informed this word is in the dictionary!).
I also get a great deal of pleasure from the different and diverse people I meet along the way, such as customers, prospects, colleagues and suppliers.
What does your new role involve?
My role will be to restructure our sales approach within Temple Knight, preparing for our push on growing the business over the near future. This will start with adding to the sales team immediately and providing new processes along with new financial products. This will benefit not only Temple Knight but more importantly our existing client base. We’ll focus more on being a Managed Print and solution provider rather than a maintenance provider, although we will not forget that our business is based on first class service which will continue.
What are you looking forward to most?
I think I can sum this up very quickly. I’m most looking forward to making a difference with positive change and working with Simon and Richard.
What attracted you to Temple Knight?
Simon and Richard are the reason. The first time I met these guys I knew we could do something special together. We all have the same ideas of where we want the company to be, and they’re happy to listen to every new idea with energy and enthusiasm. This enhances my role hugely and gives me the confidence that we can succeed in our new and exciting journey.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Back in the day in our industry, it was work hard and play hard. Thankfully, those days are behind me now and family seems to be the only thing my wife Jackie and I get time for, as we have 3 grown up successful boys and 2 wonderful grandchildren so most of our time is spent with them. However, we do enjoy as many short breaks in the sun that we can fit in during the year which includes a drink or two.
