Meet the Team | Our CEO Bob Barbour

Name: Bob Barbour
Role: Director and Chief Executive
Length of time working for the company: 28 years

 

What is your background?

My background is in engineering and I have over 25 years’ experience of living and working internationally, in countries such as the USA, Germany, Netherlands, Middle East and Australia. During that time, I had a range of responsibilities including covering overall divisional responsibilities for world-wide manufacturing (mostly in Asia) for a USA Digital Multinational company following an earlier career in Commissioning and Operational Management in electric power generation plants in both the Middle East and Australia.

 

What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of my job as Director and Chief Executive at CforC is collaborating with international knowledge networks and world class organisations in benchmarking, technology trends, innovations and strategic business improvement drivers that enable organisations and support economic growth.

 

What does a typical day involve?

Supported by a highly educated and industry experienced team, my daily routine involves everything that a small organisation must do to survive without any subsidies. This includes managing operational budgets, providing selected high value services that organisations require and setting strategic improvement goals while encouraging organisations based across the island of Ireland to engage in CforC’s various programmes for improving operational performance.  

 

What opportunities have you been given as a member of the team at CforC?

With the support of the Board, I have been granted the opportunity to set the strategic agenda and operational direction for CforC and to ensure that the organisation reflects its values and principles in the way we serve our clients and each other.  

 

What is one important lesson you’ve learned in your career?

I have learnt many lessons over the course of my career, but the one that stands out most in my mind is to ‘always do the right thing,’ no matter what you’re faced with.

 

How do you like to relax outside of work?

I participate in both local church and evangelistic overseas mission work. I like getting out into the great outdoors and look forward to my daily walks in Portstewart followed by a cup of coffee with my wife in one of the local coffee shops. I also enjoy getting out on to the golf course occasionally. The rest of the time is spent keeping in touch with family and friends.

Stay tuned to meet the rest of the CforC team!