MICHAEL STIRRUP CEO of Waterstons Ltd
After a year at the helm, we wanted to get to know more about him, his career journey and his future plans for the business.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I dreamed of being either a singer or a footballer; unfortunately neither ambition has been achieved, but I still have hope!
Tell us about your current role.
My main responsibility is creating and communicating a strategy that’ll help us achieve our global ambitions, but the best bit is the amount of talented people I get to spend time with and learn from; be that our employees or our clients.
What is your proudest business achievement?
Being named CEO has been the pinnacle of my Waterstons career, but other highlights include leading our Durham office design and move project which hugely improved our ways of working, as well as playing a part in the opening of our office in Sydney, Australia.
How has your industry changed in the last decade?
The IT industry is forever changing and never standing still, which is part of the fun. In my opinion, the biggest change has been the realisation from many companies that having a digital strategy is hugely important in adding value if deployed in the right way – a drum we’ve been beating for over 28 years. The increasing threat of cyberattacks is also something that has grown in importance over the last few years; companies need to understand the risks they face and ensure they have the right levels of protection in place.
What are you currently working on?
We’re assessing our ongoing strategy to ensure we’re using our team’s expertise to listen to, understand and continually respond to our clients’ needs. This expertise is a key part of our business progression, so we’re always looking at opportunities to offer new services in new sectors and even new countries. For me this has included a trip out to Sydney to visit our Australian colleagues who are a key part of our global growth plans.
Tell us about the team you work with.
We have a hugely talented bunch at Waterstons; there are people more than half my age who are much more intelligent than I will ever be and it’s great being challenged from all angles! We have so many technical experts who know their stuff inside and out but just as importantly they know how to apply that knowledge to help our clients succeed.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
“You don’t need to know everything; you just need to find somebody who knows the stuff you don’t.” I heard that at an event years ago and it’s stayed with me. Part of being a good leader is celebrating that others know more than you; you should always try to employ people who are smarter than you as they’re a benefit, not a threat.
What has been your biggest career challenge?
Being CEO is very different from my previous roles; suddenly you feel very lonely and feel a greater sense of pressure, but having a fantastic team around you helps hugely.
Who are your heroes inside and outside of business?
Many years ago there was a lady I worked with called Marie-Pierre; sadly, she’s no longer with us but she taught me to always have fun at work. She always worked hard, but never took things too seriously and truly lived her teaching! Outside of work my hero is probably David Ginola; I had the pleasure of seeing him play for Tottenham on numerous occasions and he is the most gifted footballer I’ve ever seen in the flesh. I’ve picked two French people – my time living in France when I was younger has obviously influenced me more than I realised!
What would you say to the next generation of North East business leaders?
Have fun, take risks and be brave.
How do you unwind outside of work?
My kids take up a lot of my time so there’s not much time to unwind! When they’re not jumping all over me, I turn to my indie vinyl collection or knock out a few songs on my acoustic guitar.
First and last gig you went to?
My first gig was Chesney Hawkes – classic and I won’t hear otherwise. My most recent gig was Bernard Butler and Jessie Buckley which was amazing. My favourite gig however was when I saw The Charlatans in this tiny venue in Paris back in 1999. The music was fantastic, and my friend and I ended up on a drinking session with the band after the gig! One of my more surreal music memories, but certainly one of the best.