Name: Dr William Minchin

Age: 35

Industry: Agri pharmaceutical industry

First job: I come from a strong farming background. I began my working life on our family suckler beef farm at a very young age.

Biggest inspiration: At a personal level my dad, Jim Minchin, was a huge inspiration and at a professional level Seamus Maguire (former general manager of MSD Animal Health).

Favourite job: I guess I better say Ruminant Business Unit Director at MSD Animal Health, although I’m only a few weeks into the role.

Favourite part of your job: My favourite part of the job is meeting customers and coming up with innovative ways to provide solutions which help them to be more effective in their day-to-day activities. Ultimately, you want to feel like you’re having an impact on the industry. Every year I try to take a step back and evaluate where I’ve made a difference.

Least favourite part of your job: Paperwork.

Turning point of your career: Deciding to complete a PhD at Teagasc Moorepark. I learned so many key skills in the areas of communication, leadership, project management, people management and influencing colleagues to deliver results. This qualification also differentiated me from other candidates when I joined the private sector.

Lowest point of your career: The passing of a close friend, Denis Minogue (RIP). We studied together at UCD and Moorepark. I often think of Denis and his family. He had such a bright future ahead of him and passed away at such a young age.

Hopes for the future: I hope to help maintain MSD Animal Health as the number one animal health company in Ireland – to continue to benchmark ourselves against the opportunity and not the competition, nor the current market. To work every day with a deep sense of responsibility to our customers, consumers, animals, society and the environment.

Best advice you could give someone new to the industry: What you think you can achieve is much more important than what others think you can achieve.

Secondary school: Presentation College Askea, Carlow.

College: University College Dublin.

Best subject in school: Biology.

Car you drive: Audi, but at the weekends a Massey Ferguson 165 J.