Mark Naughton-Rumbo

Tell us more about your background

I am currently a Non-Executive Director at ANG Ltd, a jewellery and watch retailer operating in Ireland and the UK. I have extensive experience of CEO roles across PLC, privately owned and PE backed businesses. I have worked in retail for 40 years, with experience in consumables, home, fashion and the jewellery sectors. I also have extensive experience in finance, commercial and property management, in both growth and distressed situations. I have a proven track-record managing transactions including balance sheet restructuring and exits. I am also an experienced Independent Non-Executive Director, with Chair of Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee responsibilities.

I am a chartered accountant, and graduate of Reading University, with a BSc Hons in Pure and Applied Mathematics.

What is the one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

In today's world a leader needs a wide range of skills and characteristics to be successful. But no doubt that the most important is a mix of objectivity and calmness. It is the ability to remain objective when emotions are running high that marks out an inspirational leader.

What is the most important lesson, from your personal or business life, that has guided you the most in being a business leader?

Challenges are part and parcel of life, both personal and professional, and how you handle those crises are what sets you apart. What I learned early on was that when in the depth of a crisis, getting some time away from the noise and emotion is really beneficial in calmly assessing the challenge you’re facing, and to devise an approach to manage it. Quiet thinking time is key.

Is there someone who has had a major impact on you as a leader? Why and how did this person impact your life.

Listening and learning are another set of key skills, and fortuitously my path has crossed with some inspirational leaders during my career; both experienced colleagues and chairpeople. I learnt different things from different people so there is not one person to single out, but I believe I am a product of many influences.

What do you value most about being a member of the IoD?

The complexity of regulation, and pace of change, means it is almost impossible to be a master of all things. IoD Ireland has been a great source of knowledge and support in working through some of the challenges I have faced as a leader.

What are the biggest challenges or/and opportunities that you have seen over your career to date? And how did you overcome or/and optimise these?

Over a career in retail there have been many personal and professional challenges but the most fundamental one I experienced was that created by Covid, and the subsequent closing down of society as we had come to know it.

This required new thinking, new solutions and flexibility, as the behavioural norms were turned upside down.   

What advice would you offer to new or aspiring directors?

To be successful not only do you need to know your strengths but you must also be aware of your weaknesses. How you mitigate those weaknesses or seek assistance to help with them is critical.

Change is the norm now and with change comes both opportunities and challenges. You need to be innovative in developing responses to both these and flexible enough to adopt unique solutions. This means again listening to many different voices so creating an environment where all colleagues can contribute without fear is fundamental.

So know yourself and ensure you employ people better than you.