What happened to Bill Cullen ?

Stanley 1

Whats happened to Jackie, sure there is a few auld lads out there wouldn't mind ponying up a couple of grand a week for her company.

Mannesmann

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123517637#Comment_123517637

Yea, wasn't there to be some follow up on his tenure?

road_high

I think in this more enlightened era of work/life balance Bill Cullens philosophy around work looks like something from the dark ages. Always remember a stupid quote (one of many) from him that in his office/showroom they say “good afternoon” to anyone that arrives into work after 9.00 am (the horror). It’s recognized now you get far more from people and loyalty with a bit of flexibility and latitude rather than chaining people to desks, boardrooms and offices

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122819382#Comment_122819382

Always thought there was something odd about her. More along for the champagne lifestyle rather than any real business acumen with very high notions of herself

Strumms

him and my Dad were involved in the same charity. My auld fella like 90% of the members / volunteers would turn up to every event / monthly meeting unless away on holiday or not feeling well. The Bill fella would turn up for the big AGM and Christmas party only. Apparently when he did full of opinions, ideas and various notions. Despite not ever showing his face at the coalface for the regular stuff every month..…

alias no.9

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123532780#Comment_123532780

They should have held their meetings at 4:30am to fit his schedule. By all accounts, he signed every copy of his books he could get his hands on in bookshops to make sure they couldn't be returned to the distributor, but unlike Bertie who did the same, I think Dr.Bill actually paid the bookshops for the books, he wanted a best seller by whatever means possible whereas Bertie just wanted the money.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123532780#Comment_123532780

Yea he did always come across like that- big mouth with plenty of "ideas" and opinions but not someone likely to follow through and be a doer of them.

He mostly ran a Renualt franchise which mainly involves following a marketing template and strategy as laid down by the parent company - hardly Bill Gates or Steve Jobs level of innovation.

littlefeet

Some of these posts are so creepy AH can be a strange place at times,

Quiet Achiever

I see Jackie fairly regularly shopping in Avoca. So not flat broke anyway, although the landrover is a few years old now

Stanley 1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123532562#Comment_123532562

Problem is FAI is broke and relying on Govt handouts, CEA is taking the case v Delaney but it is a Govt org, so Govt is financing everybody and Delaney has run up a legal bill of 2m and no guarantee he will pay it so Govt is on the hook for the lot.

Also seems to be a lot of problems at the CEA and the Gardai element seem to have pulled so this will make it very difficult to get Delaney on criminal charges, any assets he had in the State are now probably disposed of, several of his friends have fronted for him.

FAI would probably prefer it all was buried as they want the Govt to finance them for 865m over the next 10 years, Delaney always held the Govt should finance the FAI and he would run the private side like sponsors etc., brown envelopes…………….

orourkeda1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122817584#Comment_122817584

Was that the one on the naas road????

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123538707#Comment_123538707

I think it was Meridian motors in Carlow though there may have been others- Ssangyong were probably the worst car brand and franchise on sale in recent years here- they were ludicrously uncompetitive as a package hence why so few were sold. Not sure if they are even still sold here. A long way from Renault with their slick marketing and dealers that’s for sure

mazdamiatamx5

It is my melancholy duty to report that Bill passed way some years' ago in a mysterious gardening accident/helicopter crash/swimming accident. The police said it was one of those cases that was perhaps best left unsolved.

mazdamiatamx5

As a not particularly morning person, I enjoyed overhearing some workplace banter years' back (office job, not motor trade)

(on time work colleague) "what time do you call this, you bollox?"

(tardy work colleague) checks watch and goes: "I'd call it 10 in the morning, what time do you call it?"

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123542148#Comment_123542148

Cullen's dealership was on the Naas Road

SsangYong got renamed to KGM, they have a large dealership network but I'd imagine most sell very, very few - checking a few websites they're nearly all primarily second hand dealers. 91 sold Jan-May 2025, 2/3rds commercial. For private cars, they're being outsold by Xpeng now - a brand I've never seen a single one of on the roads.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123532731#Comment_123532731

That attitude is still around.

I have a boss who is very much a throwback to that type of management. Obvious workaholic who spends most of their nights working, nothing is ever enough, everyone should be willing to do anything, and expects even junior staff to be as invested as though they're the an owner of a startup.

Needless to say it's not for me. Actively looking elsewhere.

New Scottman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547471#Comment_123547471

I worked for a manager in the past who said "taking your full allocation of annual leave is career suicide"

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123548161#Comment_123548161

Mine regularly comes out with things that make me cringe and in any other organisation I've worked would have HR having a chat with them - justifies it as being direct/blunt, but those days have changed especially when dealing with more junior people.

Also just can't step away from getting involved in day to day but then complains about the time it takes from him

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123535861#Comment_123535861

I ran into Jacqui over the weekend and told her yiz were talking about her here. She looked surprised.

gallifreya

He has some form of dementia.  Had it for a while.  I hear herself is keeping him under close guard and wheeling him out for the odd photoshoot. To be fair he seems well looked after but I understand it's being made difficult if not impossible for friends and family to get to see him and I find that very sad.  He was always a sociable aul blusterer.  

Like him or loathe him, he worked hard and as far as I know, hurt no-one.  All his debts were personally guaranteed so the taxpayer wasn't bothered and he provided employment for hundreds of people over the years.  

Saul Goodman 91

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123550987#Comment_123550987

You are spot on. He wasn't a villain and was a decent man beneath it all.

There are bankers who did far worse to people and families and there are no threads asking about their whereabouts.

jippo nolan

Can we start one about David Drum?

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123550987#Comment_123550987

that’s a fair point, he did provide employment and gave a living to lots of people. It’s just he was very public/celebrity and went on like a pain in the arse. Hence the stick he gets but no one wishes him ill or bad

pgj2015

I know someone who once met bill after she had an awful day, she had her car clamped and was telling him about it, she was very upset about it, he had a chat with her and at the end of the conversation he handed her a copy of his book and they parted company. She opened the book later and there was 50 euro inside. A decent guy in my opinion and an inspiration, a hard worker and determined guy.

Mannesmann

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123548161#Comment_123548161

The USA way. Heard a story that if you took your full two weeks you might be moved or even not have the job when you got back!

Stanley 1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123568103#Comment_123568103

If there is a scam/thieving going on, it's more likely to be found out when the perpetrator is away on holiday.

Yeah Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122819060#Comment_122819060

Soooo……not for free, then, completely going against the exact concept that his partner was espousing and which the poster you quoted was deriding as being completely out of touch?

New Scottman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123572993#Comment_123572993

that's why a lot of Irish companies want you to take two continuous weeks leave every year

Stanley 1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123573165#Comment_123573165

Yep, particularly banks and other financial institutions.