Bagging thirty-seven years of a promising and rewarding career, the industry stalwart James Michael Lafferty needs no formal introduction as he is termed as a phenomenon in the corporate world. He is renowned for his inspiring story of starting as a fitness trainer in the Procter & Gamble Company in 1984 and progressing through marketing to become a division CEO for P&G, Coca-Cola, and British American Tobacco.
Lafferty’s journey with Fine Hygiene Holding (FHH) has been quite remarkable and can be noted to encompass immense hard work, dedication, positive aggression, and focused leadership. Lafferty joined Fine Hygiene Holding (FHH) in 2015 as a board member then he quickly got immersed in the business and fell in love with the brand and Fine’s rich history and strong sense of purpose, and just 3 years later in 2018, he was offered the position of CEO which James Michael Lafferty was thrilled to take on and that naturally deepened his involvement in a unique and value-driven company.
THE GLOBAL LEADER IN WELLNESS
As a global leader in wellness and the MENA region’s top manufacturer of hygienic paper products, FHH offers a truly diversified array of products. While the initial offering was centered on producing hygienic paper products – including facial tissues, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, and jumbo rolls – they rapidly expanded their offering in recent years, diving deeper into the broader category of wellness. This includes investments in a diverse range of health supplements and wellness products; for example, FHH acquired a majority stake in Nai Arabia Food Company, a producer of healthy, sugar-free, and natural iced teas.
They also recently launched Motiva, a line of natural and clinically tested supplements. This includes the Motiva Neuro Booster, a supplement that improves brain health and cognitive functions of patients with Alzheimer’s, as well as the Motiva Immuno Booster, a powerful anti-inflammatory that improves immune functions and helps elevate one’s mood, metabolism, and even hair and skin health.
Additionally, as an indirect and immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FHH now produces an innovative line of personal protective equipment (PPE) and long-term germ protection solutions under the Fine Guard brand. This ever-growing lineup includes antiviral masks, gloves, sanitizers, and other potentially life-saving products.
FHH also offers out-of-home hygienic solutions, including Fine Disinfection Solutions, a service that helps businesses and entities across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt address the challenges of the ongoing pandemic. The company is actively looking for ways to tailor the B2B services in ways that meet industry- and sector-specific needs.
“In the coming years, our focus is on taking a more holistic approach to wellness, which includes expanding into new wellness verticals. Of course, this growth can only be achieved by maintaining our steadfast focus on innovation-not only in terms of our products and services but also in terms of our operations and how we serve our customers”, shared Lafferty.
He continued, “Our IPO journey is also well underway, which is a very new and exciting step for us, and we expect to be publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange in the next couple of years.”
HICCUPS ON THE WAY
According to Lafferty, if pressure is well-managed and prepared for, it can serve as a motivating factor: it keeps him challenged and gives him a sense of urgency to accomplish more. He thrives on tackling obstacles as long as he keeps a positive mindset in place, it is also crucial to maintain a certain level of realistic optimism in a fast-paced and demanding environment, for both yourself and the people you manage.
He further said, “I believe that preparing for challenges stems from being strategic and organized; having a clear game-plan and vision of what you want to accomplish. It also helps to be honest with yourself and your team about what needs to change and to take ample time and calculated steps to execute that.”
JAMES’S “SECRET SAUCE“
Lafferty thinks it’s important to constantly reinvent yourself; never get too comfortable and complacent just because matters are running smoothly. Complacency tends to obliterate any sense of creativity or innovation. Adopt an ‘always learning’ approach to life where you are constantly curious and hungry to expand your skill set, knowledge, networks, and possibilities. Leaders must constantly engage with their staff and keep them motivated in real and human ways.
He also believes that listening is crucial for leaders to excel because it gives perspective and breeds respect between people. It is always advisable to remain calm and collected, to be resolute in your decisions, and to never lose focus even when faced with the most difficult of problems.
THE CORNERSTONES OF SUCCESS
Hard work and persistence are the cornerstones of success. The expectation of having success fall into your lap is largely unrealistic, you must seek opportunity and work hard on your goals in order to breed success. Recognizing and seizing opportunities are skills that improve and develop after many attempts studded with trial and error.
Humility is another crucial characteristic for future leaders, checking your ego at the door is the first step you should take. You also must be a good listener and learn all that you can from everyone you interact with. That is why surrounding yourself with people from all walks of life is important, the more diverse your surrounding is the more variety of perspectives you’re exposed to which results in enhancing your capabilities in various areas.
FROM THE CEO’S DESK
While talking about his leadership style Lafferty apprised, “Coming from an athletic background, I believe strongly in the importance of teamwork; in a way, I approach corporate leadership in the same manner that I would coach a sports team. My goal is to get everyone working together and to keep us aligned toward a unified, collective long-term vision. As a leader, that means working to inspire, motivate, and empower others. It’s about helping people find their strengths, cultivating their passions, and ensuring that we’re all aligned and in sync.”
“The first time I applied for P&G’s brand management program, I was rejected. But instead of letting that rejection defeat me, I let it motivate me to work harder: I contacted the company’s HR department and insisted that they’d made a mistake. My persistence ended up paying off: by showing them my commitment to learning and growing, they eventually chose to accept me into the program. It’s only a failure if you give up: real champions will always persevere through challenges and setbacks”, Lafferty proudly shared when asked about his failures and learning from them.
