WEIRBULLETIN | MARCH 2011
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO WEIR? VF: The opportunity to work for a global FTSE 100 company back in my homeland was certainly a huge driver! Whilst my background is in Consumer and my knowledge of the Capital Goods sector was fairly limited, it didn’t take me long to do a bit of digging and to appreciate that Weir is a well-respected company in strong shape financially, well run, with clear strategies and operating in end- markets with strong growth characteristics. This was pretty key to me being attracted to the role - as someone who’s job it is to sell the company and its leadership it makes my job far easier! The sector didn’t scare me off - we make things that customers pay a premium for because they are better than the competitors’ and we innovate to stay ahead of the pack - that’s not so different to Pampers or Ariel! Sure, it’ll take time before I can talk with quite the same passion and knowledge about a GEHO pump or a mill liner as my colleagues, but I am already surprising my husband with my chat about our business over the dinner table!
WHERE DID YOU WORK BEFORE WEIR? VF: I worked in London for 12 years in 2 global consumer companies: latterly I was at SABMiller, the FTSE top 20 Brewer of brands such as Grolsch and Peroni for 3 years in their Investor Relations team. Prior to that I was at Procter & Gamble in a number of roles in Finance, Strategy and M&A.
IN TERMS OF YOUR APPROACH TO LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? VF: I am passionate about personal development and supporting the teams I lead and the individuals I mentor and coach to achieve our maximum potential personal contribution. I love working in and leading teams and hope I create an open, energising and fun environment where everyone can work to their strengths and as far as possible do what they love doing every day - I am really
WE MAKE THINGS THAT
CUSTOMERS PAY A PREMIUM FOR BECAUSE THEY ARE BETTER THAN THE COMPETITORS’ AND INNOVATE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK
looking forward to developing and building on the small, but perfectly formed team I have here in Glasgow! I was previously responsible for L&D for the Finance function at P&G and led a number of initiatives around diversity, so hopefully I can contribute towards the Weir Way in these areas too.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES? VF: Establishing a ‘FTSE 100’ style investor relations programme building on last year’s activities such as the well-received Capital Goods day is my key focus, however I need to get up to speed quickly on our business and the markets in which we operate, so lots of trips planned to our facilities so look out for me! Making friends with everyone I need to collaborate with to do my job - analysts, investors, journalists, advisors and my colleagues in the Divisions and functions - is a pretty critical, but very enjoyable part of my role.
AND YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS SINCE JOINING WEIR? VF: Very happy - it’s a really exciting time to have joined Weir. It is important to me that I work with people that I respect and enjoy spending time with; I hate the word “nice”, but everyone I have met so far really is very nice!
Vicky Ferrier joined the company in January 2011. Married with two children, Vicky lives in the West End of Edinburgh. She is a Chartered Accountant and read English Literature at Aberdeen University.
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