Future Proof
Being
entrepreneurial:
T H E P OWER OF
RES I LIENCE
Award-winning businesswoman,
Alexander Mann Solutions’ Founder and
CEO Rosaleen Blair, describes her journey
to establish the company and the qualities
needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.
Rosaleen Blair
CBE
Founder and CEO,
Alexander Mann
Solutions
Rosaleen is a recognised
leader and entrepreneur in
the talent acquisition and
management industry.
[email protected]
H
aving received a CBE in May, for Services to Business,
Alexander Mann Solutions’ Founder and CEO
Rosaleen Blair, has no intention of sitting back and
contemplating her success.
“As an entrepreneur, I’m probably more excited
about the sector now than I was even when I started 20 years ago,” she
says. “There’s so much opportunity in the world of talent acquisition
and management. People are a company’s biggest asset and when
you think of the workforce over the years to come, it will change
beyond recognition.”
The passion and courage that originally propelled Blair, in 1995,
from her home in Dublin to London, where she had “no contacts and
knew no one” – leading to the launch of Alexander Mann Solutions
less than a year later – is still evident. In 2013, she sold the company
to private equity firm New Mountain Capital, retaining a significant
management stake and remaining as CEO, guiding the organisation’s
strategic direction. She stated at the time: “We look forward to
extending our global footprint, particularly in North America,
deepening our sector expertise and expanding our service offering.”
The US is now 20% of Alexander Mann Solutions’ business, and
the firm has been enjoying double-digit growth. Armed with a global
mindset, it continues to follow a growth agenda, whether getting
the best out of Brexit, or exploring the brave new world of artificial
Issue 1 - 2017
47