Post by Kevin Chesters

ALL HAIL THE QUIET ONES I’ve always tended to be a bit noisy (nooooo Kev, I hear you cry) It’s given me a healthy and jealous respect for the quietly brilliant ones. I won’t call them out, because they’d hate that. It’s why they’re quiet. But they’re the unsung heroes of any team, process or organisation. One of my fave unsung heroes is Brian Sollit. Heard of him? Probably not. Brian worked in NPD at Rowntree’s, the confectionary makers from 1957 to his retirement in 2008. Over 51 years he became one of Britain’s most influential confectionery developers. ] He is credited with major contribution to inventing the Yorkie, Lion Bar, Matchmakers, and my favourite choccie bar, the Drifter. \ But he is best (un)known for his work in creating the After Eight mint. With a warning to keep the project top secret, bosses asked him to create the wafer-thin mint, and the process he developed for stopping the chocolate's liquid centre for oozing out has still never been revealed. His creation went on to sell billions, and they are still shipped to more than 50 countries around the world from the After Eight factory in Halifax, West Yorkshire. On his death in he was described in multiple national obituaries as ‘the real life Willy Wonka’ So today I want you to seek out the quiet brilliant one in your team and give them a quiet pat on the shoulder to say thank you. Those people, if you’re a boss, will make you a mint. #NPD #people #leadership #boss #marketing #clients #motivation #heroes