Five Questions with Bob Appleby

AUSTIN, Texas—Recently appointed as Vice President and General Manager, ADI North America, Bob Appleby has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical distribution industry, working to ensure patients and healthcare providers had access to the drugs they needed. He now uses his talents in the security industry to help protect families, companies, employees and assets.

Are you married? Any kids? Pets?
I have been married for more than 26 years to my college sweetheart. We have two daughters, 18 and 16 years old. Our family is a dog family, and we have a soft-coated wheaten terrier.

Is there something interesting that your coworkers might not know about you?
I had my 15 minutes of fame experience at the age of 10 in Washington, D.C. One afternoon, while playing outside, I was approached by someone who asked me if I had seen the Goodyear Blimp fly during the day. I replied, telling him that I had, in fact, seen the iconic blimp floating by nearly a half-hour earlier.

As it turns out, the man who had approached me was television personality Maury Povich, who was working for a local news station at the time. Maury asked if I would like to be featured in a segment where I would ride on the Goodyear Blimp and interview the pilot. To this day, I am one of the few civilians that has had a chance to ride on the Goodyear Blimp, and I got to be on the news as well.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Early in my career, I was given the advice when you're negotiating a deal to always make sure you fully understand the business of the company you are negotiating with, as well as your own. Understanding business needs will help negotiate a deal that benefits both parties.

Why did you decide to join the security industry?
Over the course of my career, I have enjoyed working for companies that deliver a positive impact on society. When I received the opportunity to join ADI and the security industry, the decision was easy because we help provide peace of mind and a safe environment for people to work, live and play.

Have you read any good books lately?
“Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni is a book I feel anyone who leads a team should read. If you can address the five dysfunctions, the results will lead to a team that exceeds expectations, sets viable strategies, and not only trusts each other, but drives trust through their entire organization.