WE ARE ESBE, AMBASSADOR DARREN MYERS

Breaking new ground for ESBE

ESBE was not unfamiliar to Darren when he applied for the position of Sales Director. In fact, he had previously collaborated with ESBE’s CEO, Peter Cerny, at a former workplace. He was also familiar with ESBE’s products, making the job more attractive.

When asked about a typical workday, Darren explains that he’s in the process of creating a trading platform for ESBE’s UK market, something he has experience with.

“My days are filled with many phone calls, a lot of Teams meetings, and many visits. It’s extremely exciting and some days very frustrating.”

The frustration can be largely explained by Darren’s nature, or as he puts it:

“I’m very tenacious and want everything now – today! It’s frustrating to be energetic and impatient, and despite getting older every year, I still practice learning patience.”

Being a pioneer and paving the way for the ESBE brand suits Darren perfectly. He loves setting up customer accounts and working with the right partners. The only thing that might cause issues is Darren’s accent.

“I work with fantastic people whom I consider my friends, even if they don’t always understand my accent.”

Darren speaks English with a Geordie accent, the oldest dialect still spoken in England. Geordie is also what people from Newcastle and Tyneside are called. Originally from Newcastle, Darren and his family now live further west, in Ramsbottom, Lancashire.
 

Getting to know the winning spirit Darren Myers

If we get more personal, football has played a significant role in Darren’s life.

“When I was young, I played football at a very high level. In fact, I played Leeds and with all the scouts there at 15 years old, but on that crucial day, I didn’t have a good day. However, the central midfielder I was supposed to mark did. I was naturally gutted, but I continued to play football for the joy of it rather than for a career.”

Darren explains that football has taught him respect, determination, and a will to win. The latter is not always appreciated, at least not according to Darren’s wife.

“I’m very competitive. Second place is the first loser, in my view. It’s a trait my wife doesn’t like, so I have fun exaggerating it,” Darren laughs.

For the past 15 years, Darren has been a football coach. He has experience coaching both youth teams for boys and girls and senior teams for women and men. Currently, he leads an under-18 football team, but he’s also a coach in a professional academy where he coaches children and youth under 8, 11, and 14 years old. But it doesn’t end there. He’s in the process of embarking for a UEFA B coaching license (he already has level 1, UEFA C).

“Football is similar to business. It’s about getting the best out of people. For me, football is a legacy passed down from generation to generation. I always promised to give something back after my playing career because coaches did it for me.”

Giving back can evidently be done across borders. When Darren visited Reftele, he acted as a guest coach for the women’s team RÅs LB. The team is a merger of women’s football activities from the clubs: Bredaryd Lanna IK, Reftele Goif, and Västboås Goif. One who knows how Darren is as a coach is Julia Holm, who works in ESBE’s customer support.

Darren and players in RÅs LB. Darren in the blue jersey in the middle at the back and Julia Holm, the third player from the left in the front row.