Every month we literally put one of our employees under the spotlight and ask them a series of professional, and personal, questions. This month, it's Ed Carney.
How old are you?
32
What's your professional background?
14 years in non-FMCG marketing starting in the construction industry in London where I earned my marketing stripes. I then moved to the IT industry where I spent 5 years helping set-up a marketing function for a small IT reseller before moving into financial services at the Thinc Group in 2005. There, I helped develop their commercial finance brand before its acquisition by AXA. I was then moved into AXA’s marketing workstream to help oversee the development and launch of a new AXA brand called Bluefin. Following the successful launch of the brand and a year establishing it, I moved to SBF in 2010.
What do you do at SBF?
Head of Sales Development & Marketing
What are your primary responsibilities?
Responsible for building the brand, developing new routes to market and developing marketing as a whole.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The challenge! I’m really excited about implementing new marketing strategy into the business. I love everything from the challenge of establishing a brand DNA to seeing immediate results of concentrated marketing (big thanks to the Haulage industry!).
What was your childhood ambition?
I actually wanted to be a football manager! I’ve always been interested in the tactical side of the game rather than actually playing it!
What are your hobbies?
Being a new father, my main hobby at the moment is spending time with my son and watching him grow. Personally, I watch a lot of sport with football and tennis being the main ones. I also like to grow literally hundreds of chilli plants (amongst other veg!) every year and make chilli jam, chilli sauce and pickled chillies. Other than that I do play a bit of snooker and 9-ball every now and again.
Favourite film?
Goodfellas.
Favourite ice cream?
Not a fan of it but if I had to choose I’d go for a chocolate mint flavour.
Favourite band / artist?
I prefer individual songs rather than bands but if I had to go see a group I’d go for Ocean Lab.
Favourite food?
Difficult one as I love ALL foods! I love to try new cuisines but if I had to choose one type of food I’d probably go for seafood.
Favourite colour?
I love neon blue.
Favourite cartoon?
When I was a kid I loved Thundercats!
Favourite sitcom?
The Office.
You wouldn’t know it by looking at me but…
I used to be a decent ice skater and ice hockey player before I got lazy and gave it all up for cigarettes and booze!