We are proud to announce that our Managing Director, Barry Leahey has been named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017 and will receive an MBE for services to UK trade & investment and exports.
Barry has been the driving force behind our growth strategy and has successfully formed distribution agreements in 46 countries in less than 7 years. Our products can now be enjoyed by children right across the globe from Spain to Singapore!
As well as the focus on exporting here at Playdale, Barry has regularly presented with passion for the Department of Industry and Trade (DIT) and has helped other businesses in the area to ensure their export success. He has been asked to be an after-dinner speaker at international business award ceremonies, has been a judge for regional export awards and was recently asked to present an award on behalf of DIT when the Regional Director could not make the event.
Barry said “Receiving an MBE will be one of my greatest achievements and I could not have done it without the support of my team at Playdale and my family. When the UK market began to decline six years ago, I made it my mission to explore opportunities abroad and make Playdale a success globally. We still have a way to go but we have increased our export sales from £0 in 2010 to over £2m in 2017.”
Barry’s nomination was considered by the Cabinet Office and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017. Clearly, they concluded that Barry’s exceptional and excellent service to UK Business and Export was indeed worthy of recognition.
Congratulations Barry on this incredible achievement!
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