Geoffrey Betts

I am a dynamic global leader with deep expertise in international business strategy, sales, marketing and people management, now retired although always interested to mentor or have a non exec role. I fully understand the financials with full profit and loss insight, in sales, and in management. I have the vision and strategy to make a business grow and thrive. I was Managing Director of my own company which I founded on a greenfield site, built into one of the best-known companies in the industry – office supplies – and ran it for 30 years. In 2021, I opened a subsidiary in the Netherlands (so as not to be stifled by Brexit) and finished my career with business in Europe, the USA and Canada. I was President of the Society of Old Friends' from 2011 - 2013. Served on the Office Supplies Trade Federation BOSS board from 1998-2022. Was Chairman of Office Supplies Manufacturers Group within BOSS for 5 years from 2005 - 2010. Chairman of the BOSS Federation from 2016 - 2019. Received the 'Outstanding Achievement' Award for services to the UK Office Supplies Industry at 2013 BOSS Industry Awards evening. A wonderful moment in my life. Received the European Life Time Achievement Award at the OPI Industry Awards dinner in Amsterdam in March 2022. The industries highest accolade. I am a family man. I dearly love my children and I want them to be proud of me. I love to travel. I like to experience different cultures and different ways of doing things. I love how Americans do business, their enthusiasm and their spirit. What’s on my bucket list? Riding with huskies. I am a lifelong Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur) fan, but don’t hold that against me! Love and follow cricket. I have always enjoyed all sorts of sports and I am a keen golfer and sat on the board of my local golf club, Gerrards Cross, for over ten years. I like to sing and play the guitar. I play live gigs. If you put me on the spot and a guitar into my hands, I would play you The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel). I believe in positivity – if you put someone in a positive frame of mind, they can and will deliver.