I was born and raised on a farm near Ballymoney and the Christies business started in 1992. Originally the business sold products for large animal grooming and then the business commenced selling pet grooming products in 1996. From day one I had a passion for building a business with a great customer experience and this has been a key part to my success. The large animal and pet grooming channels co-existed in the business until 2011, when I sold the large animal business which then allowed us to concentrate solely on the pet market.

The company continued to grow until 2020 when I sold the business to Nexus Brands Group, a private equity-backed US Group based in Los Angeles. I continued in my role as Managing Director of the Christies business. In 2022 Nexus made a further acquisition in Belgium and I now head up the Nexus pet business in Europe with the responsibility to expand further into Europe utilising the Belgian business and warehouse.
Since 2020 the business has seen strong growth in turnover and profitability as we maximise the opportunities which being of a larger group brings.
Over the years I would say my strong points are establishing and empowering my senior team with a clear vision for the future and then creating the right culture, structure and processes in the business to ensure the plan is delivered. I enjoy developing the skills of the team across the business and seeing people succeed in their roles. I have a real passion for product development and innovation and this aligned with strong marketing skills and customer service has been key to my success.

I have always had a strong interest in utilising the latest technology and marketing techniques, either traditional or digital. One key lesson for me is to never assume, but make your business decisions based on the data. This can save wasted time, people resources and money if you follow this rule
Over the years I have learned the benefits of taking time out from the business and on my time off, I enjoy travelling, cars, exercising and spending time with the family.