AFTER 44 years of service Sodexo’s longest serving employee in Ireland has retired.
At the time of her retirement Roberta Flynn, from Lisburn, was the temporary staffing solutions manager and based in the Belfast office though she originally joined the company in 1972 as a part-time assistant cook in the staff restaurant.
In 1977, she was promoted and moved to Moy Park as a cook/manager, feeding 400-500 people.
In 1980, she took on the role of district supervisor, looking after the Stewarts Supermarket Group.
She was subsequently promoted to area support manager and in 2006, took over the role of temporary staffing solutions manager.
Roberta said, “I’ve been with Sodexo for almost as long as I’ve been married, so the company is like a second family to me.”
As a provider of on-site services to clients in government, business and industry, education, financial and healthcare Sodexo employs 2,200 staff based in over 200 locations on the island of Ireland.
Roberta never missed a day’s work, even during the height of the Troubles, and was involved in several high-profile VIP events throughout her career, including the official opening of the Police Support Unit at RAF Aldergrove and getting to meet Prince Charles. Roberta was also involved in the hospitality provided for the switching on of the mains electricity on Rathlin Island in 1992 by former SDLP leader John Hume and the late Reverend Ian Paisley.
Roberta will be missed by her colleagues who were full of praise for her warmth and professionalism.
Country president, Sodexo Ireland, Margot Slattery said:” I first met Roberta about twenty years ago, after I joined the company, but got to know her even better over the last ten years, travelling and working between our offices in Belfast, Dublin and Cork.
There was always a warm welcome on arrival, followed by a reviving cup of tea, along with endless help and support any time it was needed.
I know she will be greatly missed and I wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement.”