Name: Kevin Farrington
Company Role: Director
Favourite quote or saying: ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ – Nelson Mandela.
Hi, Kevin! We’re delighted to talk with you today, and are looking forward to learning more about you and your time at Cherry Godfrey. To start with, can you tell us a little more about your career to date?
After being uncertain about what I wanted to be after leaving school, I eventually decided on Barclays Bank and was with them for 20 years (working in the North West of England, London and then latterly the Isle of Man). For the majority of that time I worked primarily in personal lending of all kinds, including mortgage lending – and until 2019 and COVID I continued to work in the lending/relationship manager arena.
Following redundancy, I spent two years working in the Isle of Man Hospital as an Admin Manager, where I looked after a team of 42: a challenging but fulfilling role. I am delighted to have now joined Cherry Godfrey, and I’m completely immersed in our mission to help our fellow islanders where we can.
What did you learn from your first job?
I worked in the back office, I was the only male in a well-established, large team. Very quickly, I learned that listening carefully was the most important thing: a lesson that has stood me in good stead ever since!
What makes someone a great leader?
The ability to listen, and the desire to develop your team and work with them in achieving collective objectives. You must accept that you will make mistakes, but also that you will learn from them and rarely make the same mistake twice. It’s important to understand that your team is your greatest asset, and you should treat them accordingly.
Talk to us about the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work – how did you overcome it?
This was not work related but COVID related. I was made redundant at a time when businesses were tightening their belts and so a new job was very hard to find. I spent my time walking and looking for my next challenge. Mentally it was tough; but with great support from my wife, here we are - and all that good work walking has slowly faded away!
Tell us: what’s one thing you love about Cherry Godfrey?
The genuine desire to help fellow islanders where we can and as much as we can.
What daily habits help you succeed?
My daily habit - which is a necessity at my age! - is to write things down and use a diary to organise my day.
If you were able to invite any three people round for dinner (living or dead), who would you choose – and why?
The late Queen: a lifetime of stories and dedication to the country. Michael Palin: to hear about his amazing travels and lifelong career in comedy. Finally, Josh Gates – an adventure presenter and film maker – so we could talk about everything from aliens to the yeti!
And, finally, what do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
I enjoy walking in the beautiful scenery of the Isle of Man and using that time to listen to audio books. It is great to be in the fresh air and also an excellent opportunity to catch up on all those books you should have - or could have - read but just never found the time.
