Chris Corbin
Chris Corbin is one of the most inspirational examples of entrepreneurship and determination on the speaking circuit today. He firmly believes that it is within the grasp of anyone to build a successful life for their family.
He started his career as a medical sales representative with a flair for success. Born in 1955 and educated at Cardinal Allen Grammar School, Liverpool. After completing a business studies degree he joined the pharmaceutical industry as a medical representative.
By the age of 27 he was sales manager at May & Baker and moved on to have successful roles with Astra, Fisons and Parke Davis.
His career came crashing down after a management change and Chris found himself out of a job following redundancy. His first marriage had failed and he was in the midst of an acrimonious divorce, he had been forced by circumstances to a fairly low point in life. Yet it was whilst sat on the ‘third step’ of his mother’s house with just £20 in his pocket that life offered him the contract that began his rapid rise to success. In the course of a chance conversation with an ex colleague Chris spotted the opportunity to say ‘I can do that’, determined to win the contract he inspired confidence and won the deal.
In 1996, Chris founded his own company. With the support of his wife Samantha, they converted their spare bedroom in Shepshed, Leicestershire into the office, hired 60 cars on credit and started recruiting; and thus Ashfield Healthcare, a company involved in contract sales outsourcing was born.
Six months later they won a contract with Sankyo and moved into their first 1,000 square feet office in Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch.
Continued success brought attention from investors and Ashfield Healthcare was bought by United Drug in 2000. A year later, Chris was appointed as a main board Director of United Drug.
In 2002, Ashfield House, a multi-million pound training centre was opened just a few miles up the road from where it all began just 7 years earlier.
In the same year, the father-of-six was awarded Business Personality of the Year by Leicestershire Business Awards and Ashfield Healthcare Business of the Year.
Since then the company has continued to thrive and has established itself as the market leader in its field. Expansion into Ireland and the thriving US market have followed.
Chris is keen to support the local community and founded the Ashfield Worthy Causes Fund in 2004. The trust donates to schools, talented individuals and initiatives in and around Ashby de la Zouch and has already donated over £120,000 to local educational establishments.
In July last year, the tenth anniversary of Ashfield Healthcare, the business merged with In2Focus to become Ashfield In2Focus now employing over 1,500 people with a turnover of £83million. Chris is still at the helm and driving the business harder than ever.
Chris speaks honestly and advisedly, his talks are focussed on what they don’t teach you at business school, the pitfalls and how to find the determination to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds. The huge respect this inspiring, witty and passionate speaker invokes is simply amazing.
