Future -proofing DOWN UNDER

Collaboration and data are the linchpins of success for dealers in Oz, says Office Brands’ Adam Joy

Adam Joy took over as CEO of Australian dealer group Office Brands in June 2021 – right in the middle of the pandemic and after a period of limbo following the departure of Gavin Ward six months prior.

What he found was a myriad of challenges in a vast country where parts seemed barely affected by COVID-19 while others – the state of Victoria, for example – faced some of the harshest lockdown restrictions in the world. Several of these challenges were group-specific – the lack of one cohesive brand, for instance. Others were wider industry or even national macroeconomic issues.

Step by step and with a highly collaborative outlook, Joy set out to future-proof the fortunes of its membership against formidable competition. Data, he told OPI’s Heike Dieckmann in a recent conversation, and its effective use, is key to making Australian dealers more knowledgeable and successful.

OPI: Adam, you’re coming up for your two-year anniversary at Office Brands soon. What’s your background and what brought you to an Australian business supplies dealer group?

Adam Joy: Before I joined, I was COO at the University of Wollongong for three years, taking care of its commercial, non-academic stuff. But that was actually a bit of a career change for me.

Prior to this, I had spent almost ten years at the Australian Lottery and Newsagents’ Association as its CEO. Further back, my background lies in retail, quick service restaurants, petrol and convenience and business process outsourcing.