In this edition of Meet the Team, we talk to Jim Barry, chairman of AssetTagz and Director at Leo Lion, the parent company of AssetTagz.

“A decade ago, when I was serving as a director for construction software company, COiNS, I was introduced to AssetTagz. Even back then, I could see that it was a well-designed platform with a wide range of features. At the time, COiNS did not have an asset management module for its ERP system portfolio, so it made perfect sense for them to acquire AssetTagz. After COiNS was sold in 2022, Leo Lion kept a few of the acquired companies, including AssetTagz. I was honoured to be asked to become the chairman and be directly involved with the company”.

Leo Lion has a unique business model in that it commits a sizeable percentage of the profits from its companies to help fund the Leo Lion Foundation, which then supports a range of social initiatives to address poverty, disability, and injustice.

“Giving back has always been in our DNA,” says Jim. “Even back in the early days of COiNS over 30 years ago, doing good in the community was becoming part of the fabric of the business. We started with family fun runs and went on to run events like the 3 Peaks Challenge, which raised just shy of half a million pounds in a day, over the 10 years this ran into several million. The Leo Lion Foundation has opened schools in the UK for disabled children, and even opened further schools and supported housing projects in Africa for children and victims of natural disasters.”

So, what does Jim think the future looks like for AssetTagz? “Well, we are at the beginning of an amazing journey of growth. To me, it’s like being a child in a sweet shop because there is so much new functionality, opportunities in new sectors, and territories to explore.”

When asked how AssetTagz will achieve its goals, Jim replies, “I have always enjoyed building businesses by empowering people and allowing them to grow and share the rewards with their loved ones. In business, I believe that people are the top priority, followed by people and then more people.

Outside of work, Jim is a keen sportsman. “Although I watch more than I play these days,” he admits: “Growing up, I played Cricket, Golf, Football, Rugby, and Squash to quite a high level. I even chose my apprenticeship in mechanical engineering based on the sports facilities offered”.

As I’ve gotten older, I find myself enjoying watching sports more than playing them. I’m grateful to live in Leicestershire, where I can watch high-quality cricket, rugby, and football. I’ve been a lifelong supporter of the Leicester City football team and have held a season ticket for over 60 years.

Jim was asked what he considers the most important trait in a person. He responded with “Integrity”. According to him, nothing else matters if someone lacks integrity. Jim believes that one should be able to trust someone’s judgement, even though they may not always be correct. He stated that if you trust someone’s ability to make the right decision 80% of the time, then that is a success.