Bernard Aherne Email & Phone Number

London, England Metropolitan Area

Options Greathire Ltd is the UK’s go to supplier for the hire of beautiful tableware and fabulous furniture.Options Greathire is part of the Options Group. Options was founded in 1981 in Paris, Options is a European leader in tableware and furniture hire. Today Options has more than 800 employees located in 23 offices across France and Europe. In 2020 a new company, Options Greathire was established following the acquisition of Greathire by Options GB. Options Greathire offers the most fabulous range of furniture and stunningly beautiful tableware all under one roof! Options Greathire operates out of a huge modern warehouse on the outskirts of Heath row. Along with our offices and warehouse we have created a stylish new showroom and kitchen equipped with professional catering equipment.Over the past 12 months Options Greathire has experienced rapid growth and now has over 100 employees and experienced almost 70% growth from pre-pandemic levels. We have worked on some of the UK’s most prestigious events, including recently Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, BAFTAS, BRIT AWARDS, F1, the AIM awards, Bride lux, countless weddings alongside Film and TV work including BBC TV’s Big Proud Party Agency. Options Greathire is also proud sponsors of The London Venue and Catering Awards.

London, United Kingdom

Country Director for Options GB. Options is a European leader in the hire of furniture, tableware staging & catering equipment for all events, banquets, celebrations and receptions. With 22 offices around Europe, & 770 employees Options is ideally placed to supply companies and individuals furniture, tableware and catering equipment on a rental basis.Late last year Options aquired Greathire Ltd. Greathire are London's leading event furniture hire company. I am currently overseeing the merge of both businesses and the move of the Greathire team & stock into our warehouse and offices just outside Heathrow. The merge of Options GB and Greathire will create the UK's leading tableware, furniture and catering equipment hire company allowing us to become the one stop supplier to London & the UK's leading events.

United Kingdom

Led the growth of Qik-Link from start-up to one of the UK leaders in its sector, winning many high profile contracts, with year on year triple digit percentage growth fuelled by sales of Qik-Link and rapid uptake of our install service along with high retention of clients. Upon leaving the role of MD at Qik-Link, to take up another MD role, the company was profitable and cash flow positive with a hugely bright outlook.

United Kingdom

Qik-Link is a dynamic, customer focussed company that manufactures a patented modular flooring solution for the exhibition and events sectors. Qik-Link is a modular interlocking flooring tile that allows users to create a raised platform quicker than traditional methods, with the added advantage that cables can be installed easily to run power or communications to any area of the floor through its unique cable management system. Typical applications will be a raised platform for the exhibition sector, a temporary flooring for an event, conference or even the creation of a temporary office space. We are able to supply and / or install Qik-Link modular, ultra-low profile access flooring system throughout the UK through our nationwide network of Qik-Link flooring installers. Qik-Link management and employees have a combined experience of over 100 years in both the flooring and events sectors so you can be confident that you’re in safe hands. I'm heading up the launch and expansion of Qik-Link in the UK market. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish to find out more! http://www.qik-link.co.uk

Bristol, United Kingdom

Clip is Europe’s leading provider of exhibition and display solutions. We offer high quality products from banners and pop ups to fully managed exhibition stands. Our comprehensive support services of graphic design, stand design, logistics, installation and storage, mean whatever your exhibiting needs, Clip can give you a complete exhibition or display.Clip has offices in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. I was bought into the company to set up our International Sales division, Clip Global and am based in the UK. Clip Global exists to help companies from outside the UK exhibit in the UK (through an array of services including design and build of exhibition stands (for hire or ownership), storage of stands in the UK for future exhibition and trade show needs and delivery and build of stands throughout UK) as well as looking after their exhibition needs world-wide.Since joining, I've grown Clip's international business into Europe, USA, South America, Middle East and Asia and have won several high profile clients, including most recently the Mexican Secretary of Culture. As well as undertaking projects on their behalf in the UK, myself and my team have delivered exhibition success for companies exhibiting all over the world.

Bath, United Kingdom

The Bath Good Food Awards recognise the best of local restaurants and produce in and around Bath. Sponsored by Waitrose & Great Western Wines, the awards are now in their third year. Having founded the awards in both Bath and Bristol, I sold the business in 2013. Particular achievements included hosting an awards dinner for 250 guests at the Guildhall in Bath. With awards handed out by various national food journalists, celebrity chefs and local personalities. As well as working with the Bath Catering College to inspire the next generation of chefs and catering staff. The awards are still going strong today.

I founded Small World New Media in 2008. SWNM published online guides to countries around the world. It operated as a franchise business, providing people all over the world with the opportunity to run their own online guide, making money from providing advertising opportunities to businesses operating within each territory. The business grew to 52 websites, operating in 4 continents and almost 20 different countries.My role included marketing the business, attending exhibitions, managing PR campaigns, selling the franchises, developing the product, training each of the 52 franchises, support & management of franchisees and handling key sponsorships and national & international digital advertising accounts.I also conceived the idea and launched the Bath Good Food Awards and Bristol Good Food Awards and attracted sponsors such as Waitrose. I sold the business late 2012.

Working and living in France, I ran my own online magazine, producing and writing content for it as well as selling advertising space to French and UK based businesses looking to target visitors to my site. I also held the position of Franchise Director and was responsible for expanding the franchise network across France, which I grew from 2 sites to 13 in 2 years. I was responsible for recruitment and selling the franchises through to initial training and ongoing development and sales training. I also sold advertising across HNM’s portfolio of products and sold to and account managed clients such as Barclays, HSBC, Axa PPP, Bupa and others. My role incorporated both field sales with many face to face meetings as well as telesales.

Southern Uk

I was responsible for selling service contracts on the range of equipment and products that Avery sold into the independent sector (value £550,000). The range consisted of food prep machinery such as slicers etc, as well as scales. I would sell into businesses ranging from small butchers and convenience stores through to large independent supermarkets and stores such as Fortnum & Masons and Harrods. I also managed a team of 12 technicians whom as well as servicing the equipment were responsible for selling service contracts whilst on breakdown calls. It was my job to train and develop the technicians so that they had the skills to spot opportunities and sell service contracts whilst on the road. I consistently met and exceeded targets

Bristol, United Kingdom

Responsible for developing the business, looking for new opportunities and creating new titles. Improving circulation databases and ensuring that our clients achieved the best return on their advertising expenditure.

Bristol, United Kingdom

I was responsible for a team of 8 salesmen/women from initial employment through to their training and development. I launched two new titles in the Indian market and received many plaudits from the international community. My role, whilst essentially a sales role (both personally and managing my team’s sales revenues), also included sourcing editorial contributions from government ministers and leading industry figures. My team constantly exceeded sales targets, delivering profitable magazine titles.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Responsible for selling advertising space in a range of industry magazines circulated in emerging markets such as Asia, India & Latin America. I constantly hit and exceeded targets

D.E.L.F, French Language And Literature, 1St Equivalent

Education record