WEIRBULLETIN | FEBRUARY 2013
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO WEIR? TF: Weir is a company that I have known about for quite a number of years from my days at BHP Billiton and as a competitor when I was with IMI. I have been really impressed by the strong growth the company has had in recent times and the plans we have going forward. After meeting a number of the Weir senior team I felt that the values and styles they and the company had sat well with how I like to conduct business.
WHERE DID YOU WORK BEFORE WEIR? TF: In my career I have only previously worked for two companies, BHP Billiton/ BlueScope Steel for over 20 years and then the last six years with IMI mostly in general management and senior marketing roles. These roles have allowed me to do business in a number of countries throughout Asia, with me fi nally ending up living in China for the past 14 years. China is a place where I continue to enjoy the challenges of doing business and living in the world’s fastest growing economy.
IN TERMS OF YOUR APPROACH TO LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? TF: It is the constant learning that makes life interesting and I believe that you can learn from anyone and in any situation. It is extremely rewarding to be part of a team that has developed and grown and then reap the rewards of their collective work. This is the spirit we hope to build in China as the group matures and performs as a highly professional business unit in the Weir Group.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES? TF: We are looking to develop a strong sales team who can grow our key account customers and promote the high quality differentiation Weir products have against our competitors. We are aiming to position the business to realise the vast amount of opportunity that presently exists in the China market.
AND YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS SINCE JOINING WEIR? TF: So far, so good. The local team and in other parts of the world have been great and have readily welcomed me into the Group. The vision, drive and energy of many of these people are inspiring to me and I know I have joined a good company. I feel like I am already a member of the Weir team and I am looking forward to the journey we have in developing and growing our opportunity in China.
WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTS WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT WORK? TF: To relax at the weekend I spend time with my wife visiting art exhibitions, going to the movies, reading and at times playing taxi driver for my daughter’s growing social life. I enjoy watching cricket (but as an Aussie we don’t talk about the Ashes) and I still manage to play cricket with one of the local clubs in Shanghai (but now at a much slower pace). My wife is keen on learning to play golf so I have been roped back into playing to keep her company.
Tony joined the Group in January 2013 from IMI, where he was president, China. An Australian national, Tony has lived in China since the 1990s and is a fl uent Mandarin speaker.
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