Meet Lee

Tell us about how it all started?

It all started on 1^st May 1996 - over a full English breakfast believe it or not! I founded the business with one of my best friends - Simon. He was one of the finest creative designers I’d had the pleasure of working with, and as a seasoned ‘salesperson’, it felt like the right balance to strike as we went out into the world.

I drove from customer to customer in an old clapped-out Renault 5 van (only one wiper worked) and our database was The Yellow Pages!

Looking back now it seems quite unbelievable, but I wouldn’t change a thing!

What has been the most important part of your journey so far?

There have been many important parts, and there is something to be said for having an entrepreneurial spirit. When setting up Rhino, we wanted to actively seek out change, embracing critical questioning, innovation, service, and continuous improvement. 

We set out to be a small marketing agency, providing support across various industries, and what transpired is a fully integrated marketing and events agency, catering predominantly to the automotive sector - now with a footprint across Europe as one of the largest automotive Events specialists. How’s that for progress?

What are you most proud of regarding the company?

That's simple, it's our people. I also believe building a trustworthy management team along with learning to adapt to economic factors, from a global recession to Covid 19, must be right up there. Among many other things, we are the pioneers of Automotive sales events here and across Europe – and that is a sense of great pride.

When you started Rhino 25 years ago, could you have imagined it would be where it is now?

Not at all. When we started out, we said let’s give it 10 years and see if we make it. It’s been an incredible ride so far and we have lots more to do!

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?

Get ready to work harder than you have ever worked before. Be brave, be innovative, be yourself and aim for the stars!

What motivates you?

I am motivated by success, which essentially means two things. A capable, driven workforce, and a happy client base. Our aim is and will continue to be driving results for our customers.

What do you get up to outside of work?

If I’ve learnt one thing in business, it’s that to be truly successful, the balance between work and life is key. I love to spend time with my family and go walking with my lovely wife Steph and our two golden Labradors Lola & Bobbi!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself?

Back in the late 1980’s I was a chauffeur in Manchester – I drove a 1974 Rolls-Royce!

 

To read more about Rhino, visit https://rhinogroup.co.uk/about/