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John Molloy – In The Spotlight: Building on a strong work ethic

Posted By:
Ergo Technology Group

2nd Jul 2025

In the Spotlight this week is is John Molloy, general manager of Ergo Northern Ireland, who brings over 25 years’ experience in the IT industry to the role, having previously worked with the likes of Microsoft, British Telecom, and most recently Codec

What was your first job?

I got my first job at a young age like a lot of kids with a paper round. So that’s how I went from selling newspapers, to being featured in this one.

What qualifications do you have?

My formal education ended with one A-level before I entered the workforce directly. But throughout my career, I’ve pursued executive-level training through the organisations I have worked with, highlighting my belief in continuous personal and professional development.

What do you attribute your success to?

My career has been built on a strong work ethic instilled from a young age and willingness to step beyond my immediate responsibilities. Showcasing my capabilities, being open to learning, and consistently pushing forward have been key drivers of my progress. It doesn’t always have to be about reward in the immediate term. Demonstrate to people that you’re capable of working at a level above, be willing to listen and learn, and just keep moving on. There’s no straight line from what I was doing at 19 to what I am doing now at 51.

How would you describe yourself to someone you never met?

I think I will quote Christy Moore on this one. I’m an ordinary man, nothing special nothing grand I’ve had to work for everything I own I never asked for a lot, I was happy with what I got. Enough to keep my family and my home.

Who do you look up to in business?

I look up to people that have had a real impact on me and my personal career. It’s not international superstars, it’s the people who taught me how to be a good person, a good manager, and shaped my career to date.

How do you get the best out of people who work for you?

Change the word ‘for’ to ‘with.’ People don’t work for you; they work with you. You should treat everyone as equals. I approach leadership by treating team members as equals, promoting openness and mutual respect. Regular and clear communication, such as short daily team meetings, fosters collaboration. I believe in giving people space to express themselves and the opportunity to show what they’re capable of. It’s about encouraging people to go beyond their job description without fear of repercussions. As a manager encourage people to fail fast. If people are afraid of making mistakes, it makes them indecisive and makes them hesitant. And finally, you succeed and fail as a team.

If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?

It would be to open up more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. It’s especially challenging for SMEs when it comes to working with the public sector. Most of the contracts up for grabs these days are multi-million-pound deals that smaller businesses don’t have the capacity to handle. I’d like to see a shift back to a time when there were more opportunities for SMEs, say, in the £500,00 to £3 million range. Contracts like this would allow businesses to grow, develop and exceed.

What website or app could you not do without?

With a large family of six children and four grandchildren – WhatsApp. From a business perspective, Office 365 is essential. The whole suite helps us communicate and collaborate easily with hundreds of people. It’s the flip to the negative of people not meeting face-to-face.

What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?

Golf. I’ve got a mid-level handicap but enjoy spending time with friends and competing week in week out, everyone needs something away from work to find a balance and mine is chasing a small white ball around a large green field.