SME News UK Enterprise Awards 2025/ 64 Most Insightful Brand Development Guide 2025: Make Your Mark in the Workplace – How to Build your Personal Brand International brand builder James Espey OBE is a globally recognised figure with a distinguished career spanning over 55 years. Throughout his journey, he has served as a Consultant, Mentor, and Non-Executive Director for numerous companies, playing a pivotal role in the creation of a number of iconic brands. Now, James is channelling his extensive expertise to empower future entrepreneurs in navigating the ever-evolving business landscape through his brand development guide. James Espey OBE was born in Livingstone in 1943 and educated in Cape Town, South Africa. He relocated to London in 1977 through a promotion to head office as IDV’s Group Marketing Director, a move that marked the beginning of a prosperous and prestigious professional career. Before this, however, James first began in the grocery trade before moving into the liquor industry and, in later years, serving as a Consultant, Mentor, and Non-Executive Director for a variety of companies that are now international household names. In addition to aiding business partner Tom Jago in the building of Baileys in its formative years, James was also personally responsible for the launch of Malibu, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Le Piat D’Or, The Classic Malts, and Chivas Regal 18. Beyond his impact on the liquor industry, James has also played an instrumental role in the technology sector. In 2002, he met a young entrepreneur deeply concerned with internet security and backed his vision by investing significantly into what would become Mimecast, a cloud cybersecurity company protecting critical communications, people, and data. A key early supporter, James helped launch the company from his home in 2003 and served as Chairman for its first six years. Mimecast grew into a global cybersecurity force, eventually selling for $5.6 billion in 2022. Having dedicated more than half a century to his professional journey, James has built a career not only defined by his international influence in brand creation, but also by his expertise in identifying and employing promising individuals who have gone on to make their own mark on the industry. In 2020, James published Make Your Mark in the Workplace – How to Build Your Personal Brand, the second edition of his 2014 book, Making Your Marque: 100 Tips to Build Your Personal Brand and Succeed in Business. Leveraging the depth of his experience in managing and developing top global brands. James has effectively captured his wisdom in 100 bite-sized tips that explain to emerging entrepreneurs exactly what it takes to truly thrive in today’s business landscape. Through Make Your Mark in the Workplace, James provides readers of all generations, but particularly young generations, with comprehensive, grounded advice that will help them at any and all stages of their career – from entry-level to middle-management, soloist start-ups to Chief Executives. Its straightforward structuring and accessible narrative style makes the book easy to dip in and out of or read from cover to cover, meaning that this guide can be kept on hand to read whenever, and wherever. With real-world guidance and well-rounded insights, Make Your Mark in the Workplace empowers readers with the knowledge and encouragement they need to achieve business success and career fulfilment along the course of their professional journey. From discovering what really makes up a workplace professional to learning why being fired is not the end of the world, readers will be educated, delighted, and inspired by James’ practical, proven advice. As businesses across the landscape continue to repair and rebuild in a post-COVID world, Make Your Mark in the Workplace provides advice that is now needed more than ever. This praise is not merely anecdotal; the book’s reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with readers across industries praising James for his pragmatic, down-to-earth advice designed for entrepreneurs and professionals at all career levels. Derek Wilson MBE, Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite, wrote: “James Espey’s powerful book will help you achieve career success, ‘build your brand,’ and find your own true north going forward. As an Executive Coach, I make it a “must read” for all my clients – and to great effect; executives find it an A-Z journey in their process of personal branding and making it to the top. An easy read with compelling tips and advice culled from years of experience in business – I cannot recommend this book highly enough!” Recently, James became chairman for a new English whisky distillery, The Wiltshire Distilling Co., which is set to be another extremely successful endeavour for James and his colleagues. We’re pleased to present James’ wealth of experience as he continues to support both businesses and people in their journeys. Contact: James Espey Company: James Espey & Associates Web Address: www.jamesespey.com May25158
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