David MacHale, Marketing manager, Tokheim
David describes himself as a "battler", who is inspired by the entrepreneurial culture of calculated risk-taking; but readily admits his shoe collection is getting out of hand!
Print15 August 2009
Marketing manager, Tokheim
Your favourite grocery shop?
Hewitt’s in Monkstown
How long is your typical working day?
8.30am to 6pm (but can be 3.30am to 10pm when I’m travelling)
How do you describe yourself?
A battler
What’s your favourite Irish product?
King Crisps
What’s your favourite brand, outside of the brands you represent, and why?
Apple. Clean, crisp and clear branding that reflects a great set of ground-breaking products
What piece of legislation would you introduce/change?
The legislation governing the sale of petrol at unmanned stations. We’re using legislation from 1979 that doesn’t reflect the changes in society and technology. Ireland is the only country left in Europe that does not have unmanned stations
What historical figure would you invite to dinner?
Albert Speer or Jean Claude van Damme
The best gift you ever received?
A Mini-Racer I got from Santa when I was six
What possession could you not live without?
My electric piano
What was your first job?
Night packer at Roches Stores
What was your childhood dream/ambition?
To be a writer. I fulfilled the dream by the age of twelve, wrote two books, and then retired. I’ll make a comeback in later life
What’s your ambition now?
To grow the Tokheim business internationally and to one day to run my own business
What’s the worst ad ever?
Not sure about ever, but those new Vodafone ads with person singing “if I ruled the world”. Unoriginal, unclear, unimpressed
What’s your favourite ad at the moment?
Compare the Meerkat .com
Your favourite newspaper?
The Irish Times
Who is inspirational in Irish business?
I would have a lot of admiration for Denis O’Brien. In the general sense, I do find entrepreneurs and their culture of quick moving, calculated risk-taking to be an inspiration
In your opinion what’s the next big thing?
I think the next big thing in Ireland in my sector will be unmanned petrol stations
What (if anything) was the last thing you bought on the internet?
A shoe rack, my collection of shoes is getting out of hand
What’s your pet hate?
Airports. Between the queuing, the unpacking and disrobing at security, the inaccurate displays, and miles of walking
What makes you laugh?
Garth Marenghi and Larry David
Three essential grocery items you’d take with you for a week on a desert island?
Water, coffee and tuna sandwiches
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