‘Should I resign – or take over Virgin Vie At Home?’

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Retail sector | Tags: entrepreneur, Ros Simmons, women in business, diary, Ten Alps, VIE at home, Virgin, management buy-out, Entrepreneur’s Diary, Entrepreneur’s Diary Alex Connock

Inspired by Grant Thornton’s My Big Decision series, this week we’re asking our two Entrepreneur’s Diary CEOs: ‘What has been the biggest decision of your career?’

Ros Simmons, CEO, VIE at home: My big decision was around this time last year when I was advised that Virgin were looking to sell what was then Virgin Vie At Home…

It no longer fitted the strategy the Virgin Group had on businesses they wanted to concentrate on going forward. Was this the time for me to leave graciously from my role as managing director, or should I try to bid for Virgin Vie At Home myself?

At the same time I had been offered an MD’s role at another company, which would have probably given me a much easier life and a much more glamorous one, too!

However, I felt that the opportunity to truly run your own company was one that I really had to go for, and I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility both to our consultants and head office staff – all of which probably added to the pressure. While I never thought it would be an easy process. I decided to give it my all and in December 2008 I led a management buyout of the company.

Throughout my working life I have always strived to do the best job I possibly can and to never have regrets. Subconsciously, I’m sure some of my drive comes from the fact that my father died 20 years ago, at only 46 – playing cricket of all things – and I knew even then, just starting my career, that you really do have to take all the opportunities that come your way, take some risks, get out of your comfort zone and try to make a difference.

And I can honestly say that I really do feel I make a difference to thousands of women’s lives, by giving them the opportunity to have financial independence and create a mini business of their own.

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I am constantly touched by the emails and cards I receive from our consultants, and received one today that said she had given up her full-time marketing job to concentrate on her VIE at home business.

This is a huge responsibility for me and VIE but one I wouldn’t change.

I’m so glad I made the big decision of bidding for the company. I lived through some pretty stressful times, but in the end got the right result in being successful with the bid and rebranding the company to VIE at home to take it global. I can honestly say it was the hardest decision but also the best one I have made!

Incidentally, although it’s been 20 years, there is a memorial cricket game for my father this week in Suffolk, so I believe he must have made a difference, too, in order to still be remembered after all those years.

You can catch up on Ros’s previous posts from our Entrepreneur’s Diary series, in which we follow a male and a female CEO to discover what life is like behind the scenes of their business.

To find out what CEO Alex Connock’s big decision was, click here