When people outside the industry ask what I do I say….

I work in sales for the best bathroom manufacturer in the world, it’s a German company called Hansgrohe and we make taps, showers, ceramics and furniture.

One industry issue I’m passionate about is…

We are running out of installers – the industry has to work with the government, employers and all other key stakeholders to solve this issue.

What I love most about my job is…

That’s easy! Meeting customers and working with my team is by far the best part. It also fills me with a huge amount of pleasure to see people develop and grow in their roles and then move to more senior roles.

The thing people might not know about me is…

I do enjoy a good karaoke with ‘My Way’ being my go-to song…

The industry person I most admire is…

I’m not sure I could say one person. I think anyone who invests their time, money and commits to running their own business deserves a huge amount of admiration. The pressure and responsibility that goes with it is nonstop, 24/7, For those like me who have worked for a company all my career I’m not sure we truly appreciate what it takes.

I wish this industry would talk more about…

Promoting the well-being elements of the bathroom and how it can positively impact people’s lives. Also, now more than ever bathroom manufacturers are looking at sustainable innovation and intelligently designing products that reduce water consumption and minimise waste. It’s great to see how the sector has evolved to align well-being with environmental responsibility.

I wish this industry would talk less about…

How tough the market is and has been. We need to talk the market up and inspire people into the industry more.

My proudest professional achievement is…. 

It’s hard to choose one thing over a 42-year career. What has given me the biggest satisfaction is developing and supporting people to grow into someone they didn’t think they could be.

One professional mistake I’ve learned from is…

The answer isn’t always “yes”. When you start out in a career, especially selling, you want to please your customer and keep them happy – this usually means saying yes and doing all you can for them. However, the customer’s agenda and wants do not always meet your own company’s needs and wants. Saying “no”, even though difficult at times, is something you need to feel confident about saying. In my experience, customers respect you far more by being honest and saying no than being a “yes” person.

If I could go back to the day I started in this industry, I would tell myself…

Be prepared for change and embrace it. Who would have thought this industry would have changed so much, even in the past few years? The innovations that have and continue to come through in our industry are genuinely something to be excited about – from products that reduce the amount of water we use without impacting performance, to expanding the choice of finishes to widen aesthetic possibilities. When we look at Hansgrohe’s Green vision, it rethinks how we design and use bathroom products, and I look forward to seeing where we as an industry head next.

I dance in my kitchen to…

Dancing isn’t what I would call it… but Ain’t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan would be right up there.

The song I always sing in the shower is…

That’s easy – ‘Moving On Up’ by M People.

Liam Ryan is set to retire from the industry later this year after a career spanning more than forty years, with over a decade of that spent at Hansgrohe.