PERSONAL PROFILE: 

Strong-minded, highly motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, self-starting individual, with a positive and progressive career track spanning over 30 years in a commercial, business-to-business environment, including telesales, field sales and sales management, business development experience, both in the UK and in Continental Europe.  Firmly committed and results driven.  Adaptable / flexible business approach. 

KEY EXPERIENCE / SKILLS: 

Ø       Proven, multi-level sales background

Ø       Sound organisational and managerial skills

Ø       Effective time & territory management skills

Ø       Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ø       Excellent business relationship builder

Ø       Commercially astute

Ø       “Hands-on” approach and good team player

Ø       IT literate (MS Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Lotus Notes, E-Mail/Internet, etc.)

Ø       Tri-Lingual (Fluent in written and oral English, German and French) 

EMPLOYMENT RECORD: 

 ·       Responsible for the servicing and further development of selected existing customer accounts, as well as seeking new potential customers and converting of enquiries into orders.  Customers based in UK and Continental Europe (Western and Eastern).  Mostly OEM status clients. 

 ·       Responsible for the further development of sales into UK and Continental Europe, directly to OEMs and tiered suppliers

·       Preparation of sales budgets and setting of targets for external sales force

·       Organising and chairing of regular sales meetings

·       Responsible for team of 3 external sales engineers, 2 internal sales staff and Sales Office Manager 

·       Notable achievements:

·       Increased sales to several existing accounts

·       Obtained numerous new leads and accounts in UK, Germany and France
 

 ·       Responsible for the development of sales into Continental Europe, directly to OEMs and tiered suppliers

·       Preparation of sales budgets and quotations

·       Organised product training for tiered suppliers 

·       Notable achievements:

·       Increased sales to existing accounts

·       Obtained new leads and secured new business in Germany, France and Sweden

 ·       Responsible for a team of 15 paper agencies in Europe

·       Expanded existing and generated new business

·       Set budgets / targets for agents

·       Ensured full sales and technical back up for agents

·       Produced quotations, pricing policies etc.

·       Arranged customer visits with agents in order to expand business 

·       Notable achievements:

·       Introduced new agents in Germany and France resulting in increased business turnover within 2 years, i.e.:  France from £ 150K to £ 1 MIL and Germany from £ 500K to £ 1 MIL+ 

 ·       Responsible for the procurement of base materials and finished products from world-wide sources

·       Negotiated prices / contracts with existing suppliers

·       Sought and found new / alternate suppliers

·       Arranged and scheduled shipments and attended to all import formalities

·       Responsible for stock control at off site storage depots

·       Organised quality inspection of procured materials to ensure conformity with specifications

·       Responsible for the day-to-day running of the export and sales departments

·       Arranged telesales exercises 

·       Notable achievements:

·       Reduced annual import freight bill by £ 80,000 as a result of negotiations with shipping companies

·       Implemented improved stock-holding policy and schedule of incoming raw materials, resulting in reduced storage costs of £400,000 per annum 

 ·          Responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of the sales department

·          Organised advertising campaigns, mailshots and visits to trade fairs

·          Responsible for sales into French and German speaking territories

·          Dealt with some staff recruitment and training

·          Involved in computerisation of export documentation systems

·          Credit control duties 

·          Notable achievements:

·          Developed major account with German cable manufacturer worth in excess of £ 250,000 per annum, as well as significantly increasing business with many other accounts

·          Increased turnover in designated territories tenfold
 

·          Responsible for the control and processing of purchase contracts received from overseas agents and customers in the USA, South Africa, New Zealand and several European countries.

·          Completed quotations and machine specifications based on individual customers’ requirements

·          Arranged machine trials and customer acceptances

·          Involved in personnel training for new branch in La Rochelle, France

·          Responsible for the overall after-sales service and supply of spare parts

·          Arranged service engineer visits on a world-wide basis

·          Acted as main link between customers and in-house technical staff in order to diagnose and help to rectify machine faults / breakdowns.

·          Prepared periodical statistics and management reports (spreadsheets) 

 ·          Responsible for all sales activities covering the furniture and automotive market sector

·          Dealt with major customer accounts and developed significant business with new accounts

·          Processed customer enquiries, orders and quotations

·          Arranged mailshots for new and existing product lines and followed up by telesales

·          Supervised stock control function and procurement of replenishment stocks from other European manufacturing sites 

·          Notable achievements:

·          Obtained several new accounts worth in excess of £ 250,000 p.a. each

 ·          Responsible for the general administration of export orders and shipments

·          Attended trade fairs and some customer visits in order to develop new business

·          Responsible for arranging documentation and shipment of export orders

·          Processed bank documents such as letters of credit and bank drafts, etc.

·          Negotiated freight rates with shipping companies

·          Visited manufacturing plants to discuss production schedules and any other special customer requirements

·          Responsible for stock control and assisting in the production planning 

EDUCATION: 

Primary education in France and Germany, and secondary education in the UK

Group Leadership Course in Cumbria (1979)

Export Theories Course in Manchester (1980)

Sales & Marketing Courses in Manchester (1992-1994) 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

GCE “O” Level:                       English Language (B), French (A), German (A), Spanish (A),

                                                  Maths (B), Geography (B)

Other Certificates:                  Group Leadership, Export Theories, Manchester Evening News Exporter of the Year 

PERSONAL INTERESTS: 

Travelling, DIY, International cuisine, computers, technology, walking, gardening, music, photography, motor sport.