MIKE FOLLY

Former Head of Retail Sales & Service, Barclays Bank

Mike Folly joined Barclays on their fast track recruitment programme and became their youngest managerial appointment in line Banking at the age of 26 years.

After 15 years’ experience in Branch Banking, internal audit and work study analysis he moved into their UK Head Office Marketing Department as the market manager for youth account recruitment.

After a number of innovative initiatives he was appointed to various roles including Head of Promotions, Deputy Head of Advertising and finally Head of Sales and Service for the Bank’s Retail Sector.

He was instrumental in developing special accounts for young people, the introduction of product knowledge training and motivation performance rewards for Retail staff.

Additionally he was the Bank’s lead retail representative on various project teams including the development of Direct Marketing, the introduction of debit cards, telephone and on line banking, and sports (particularly Football League) sponsorship.

After retirement from Barclays be worked for 7 years in the Corporatewear Industry helping a small start-up company grow to a market leader with a turnover similar in size to the category he is helping to judge.

He is passionate about understanding how companies can achieve excellence in profitable sales performance by dispensing world class customer service, the ways companies measure both and the motivation of staff to achieve their goals and aspirations in these key aspects of business.