By Business & Finance 
Ross Mac Mathúna, director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, takes the Business & Finance 60 second challenge.
Q. What was your first job?
Delivering The Seattle Times newspaper when I was 12.
Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Persuading my wife to marry me and becoming a father to three great kids.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
There’s no such thing as an inherently good or bad decision, rather what you make out of each decision – words of wisdom from my dad.
Q. If you could step into the shoes of one business person for the day, who would it be and why?
I have always been impressed by John Moloney, former CEO of Glanbia and now the chair of Coillte.
He is understated and remarkably effective. While working for him I learned never to lose focus on delivering real results.
Q. In three words or less, how do you define success?
Happiness and achievement.
Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
By supporting and encouraging them to achieve their goals, setting clear expectations, giving feedback, celebrating our success and learning from our failures.
Q. How do you relax?
I run – on the road, cross-country and up and down mountains.
Q. What’s your motto?
Aim high and never give up.
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business?
I’d like to see the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland playing a key role in helping the drinks industry become a success story for the nation to be proud of.
THE BEVERAGE BOSS
Ross Mac Mathúna is director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI).
The ABFI, a sector association within Ibec, represents alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland.
Through its category associations, ABFI is members of Brewers of Europe and Spirits Europe.
ABFI is a member of the European Alcohol and Health Forum, which is a platform where bodies active at European level can debate, compare approaches and act to tackle alcohol-related harm.
