Meet the 2021 Business Judges – The Industry Awards 2021
Entries into The Industry Awards 2021 are still being accepted until September 14, but while you’re working hard to create an awesome entry, you might be wondering how we select our winners.
Meet the judges for our business categories this year, who bring years of professional and practical experience in the industry. Stay tuned for further blogs introducing the judges for the creative barbering and training categories!
Audrey Hill – National Commercial Manager, Kérastase
Audrey has recently become the National Commercial Manager for Kérastase, after taking on numerous other roles in the L’Oreal Professional Products division for the past 19 years. For the first 14 years with L’Oréal she worked with Kérastase in a range of roles including Area Manager, Key Account Manager and Education Manager.
Audrey is passionate about working with salons to create the perfect client journey, to ensure the ultimate client experience and maximum profitability for the salon.
Seumus Cooney – New Zealand Regional Manager, Wella Professionals
Seumus started out in the industry in 1994 working for Combined Salon Supplies. He spent two years gaining invaluable front line warehouse and logistics experience. Making a move into sales, he worked for IMM Corp. Ltd whose hero brand was Nioxin.
A year later Seumus joined the Wella brand, and 2021 marks Seumus’s 23rd year with the company. During his time with Wella he’s had a number of roles, from Sales Consultant through to Senior Sales Consultant, Key Account Manager, and now for more than six years, New Zealand Regional Manager. He works with a wide number of brands including System Professional, Nioxin, Sebastian, SP, Wella Professionals and Clairol.
Supporting training and capability has always been a priority for Seumus and he feels his involvement with The Industry Awards is another way to do that. Seumus has judged the business categories many times, so he brings years of judging experience to the panel.
“I feel honoured to judge these awards and have an intimate view into just how exceptional our industry really is.”
Malcolm Gibbons – Business Coach, Salon Business Coach
Malcolm’s introduction to the hairdressing industry was through working with a salon specific product supplier. For around ten years he helped salon owners with products, and providing business advice and in-salon training.
Malcolm then ventured into salon ownership. For over 16 years he worked to triple the floor space of his flagship salon, added spa services and increased revenue by over 470% per week – all whilst buying, building and selling another salon and owning a computer and software supply company.
He’s been successfully coaching hair and beauty salons in sales growth, service delivery, time management, culture change and all other aspects of salon business ownership for over ten years. Malcolm also delivers regular business changing ‘salon owner retreats’ offshore and works with salon owners locally and internationally.
Malcolm has been judging the business categories for The Industry Awards for several years, that combined with over 30 years experience in the industry makes him a real asset to the 2021 judging panel.
“I’m looking forward to judging the Industry Business Awards again as I never get tired of seeing the great results come in. The passion and quality that salon owners and their teams bring to ‘Doing Business’ is always a thrill and very inspiring.”
This year, we’ll be sharing expert advice from select judges on our socials and blog. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to hear the advice they have to share!