Grant Cullen is still within the first three months of his new role as General Manager of St. Johnstone.

We sit him down on the couch to find out his first impressions of our Perthshire Business community and what he's planning to get up to over the next few months.

You're the new General Manager, what attracted you to St Johnstone?

I’ve always had an interest in football and I loved the diversity of the business as a whole – in just over two months we’ve hosted a circus, a Jehovah’s Witness convention, Manchester United, kid’s birthday parties and a wide range of corporate meetings and events. That’s all on top of a steady diet of social gatherings, selling corporate entertainment and advertising, player transfers and other football-related activities.

How have you found the Perthshire business community compared to Edinburgh/Glasgow?

Perthshire has a far more tightly-knit business community than the big central belt cities. Everybody I’ve met so far has been extremely welcoming and supportive, but seem just as progressive and up for new ideas as the bigger city people.

What are your plans for the Club this year?

“Keeping up the good work” would be an achievement – I’d hope to maintain the momentum on linking the diverse aspects of the business more closely together, as the benefits are mutual. The stadium and grounds have benefited from some investment recently and I’d hope we can justify progressing with that.

What can you / the club offer Perthshire businesses?

We have a unique position as both a focal point for a lot of Perthshire activity and a shop window for many other businesses. We prioritise supporting other local businesses, so I’ll always be happy to chat, as informally as anyone likes, about hosting corporate events or football-based entertainment and activities.

As a member of PerthshireOnline, how would you like to see the
site develop to promote local businesses?

I like the way the site’s set up. I hope the “Forum” takes off – I know the IPD site has something similar and it seems a tremendous tool for getting informal advice and guidance.

Will we be seeing you out and about in Perthshire?
Are there events that you're planning to attend?

As much as possible – I’ve already attended a Chamber of Commerce event and a networking session – because of our business diversity, I’ve got my eyes open for anything that might be relevant. I’ll be disappointed if I haven’t played every golf course in Perthshire within, say, a couple of years as well!

When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing?
(and dont say watching football..!)

My sons are 15 and 12 - they dictate what happens with my time when I’m not working or golfing. I might as well “out” myself by admitting that we’ll try to get to some Spartans FC games this season as well (but not when Saints are playing)!