OMNI (Overseas Moving Network International) has two new members of its Board: Eric Tate from Aires in the USA and Ido Barner from Mobilitas.
This interview looks at their respective backgrounds, their thoughts on the OMNI organisation, the key issues the industry faces right now and OMNI’s role in addressing them.
Both Eric and Ido have been essentially one-company men since the start of their careers in the mobility industry. Eric joined Aires 30 years ago as a sales trainee in Pittsburgh, before moving to Texas, California and on to Connecticut in 1998 where he remains in charge of the company’s Northeast region. He became a member of the Aires Board in 2008.
Ido was born and raised in Israel. After his military service and completing his higher education in Paris, France, he joined Mobilitas as a trainee in the Finance department working with Cédric Castro. He took over the management of the European region in 2006. After a short absence he returned to the Mobilitas group assuming management roles and since 2019 has been based in Bangkok, Thailand, after living in Cape Town, South Africa, for a few years.
Interestingly, Ido had a short break from the moving industry in 2012 for 18 months during which time he worked in international sourcing and development. This experience gave him useful insight into procurement and how it relates to the relocation industry. “It showed me how procurement manages business purchasing,” he said. “It is concerned only with getting the right people in the right place at the right time. It’s important that the process goes smoothly, is supply chain vetted and compliant, but they don’t have too much time to spend on tenders.”
For Eric, this is the first time he has joined a Board outside his own company. Ido, however, is also a member of the Executive Committee of IAM. Why did Eric choose to accept OMNI’s invitation this time? “Firstly, I think that OMNI is the most prestigious name in moving so I could not have refused, I hold it in such high regard.” He also points out that Bryan Putt, Aires Owner, was OMNI president some years ago. “I saw it as an opportunity to be a shaper of the industry rather than just an observer. It’s something that I can put my full effort behind to continue the tradition of OMNI which has been so important to Aires throughout my career.”
Ido doesn’t think he will have any trouble finding time for the multiple roles at Mobilitas, IAM and now OMNI. “It's a question of passion,” he said. “If you're passionate about something you always find the time to do it. My days at work are quite busy but it’s nice to balance commercial work with volunteering. It feels as if I am doing something pure, I'm not trying to win anything.”
Ido also explained that being on the Board of an organisation such as OMNI is different from a company Board ...
Photos (left to right): Ido Barner and Eric Tate.