John Pickles Email & Phone Number

England, United Kingdom

Responsible for setup and launch of an outsourced UK based field sales team, client relationship management and ongoing leadership of the team to deliver against client KPIs.

Emea

Europe

Strategic and day to day management of the outsourced European sales team, targeted to drive revenue and market share through corporate travel management companiesKey Achievements:• Achieving stretch targets for revenue growth 4 out 5 years in role.• Developing “Brand Awareness” activity to support and grow all 14 brands.• Creating and delivering agent engagement initiatives to grow awareness and revenue in targeted channels.• Strategic analysis of business opportunities and gained additional investment to expand sales team coverage to include Poland and Austria.

Client Service Manager (Sony Ericsson / Sony Mobile) – Oct’10 to PresentRelationship management of key account and management of Sony Mobile’s national field sales and training team.Key Achievements:• Developing Sony Mobile’s “Brand Ambassador” program focused on driving brand advocacy and product recommendation rate in retail.• Development & implementation of Sony Mobile’s 2012 trade engagement plan.• Continuously exceeding both sales and training targets demonstrating continuous quarter on quarter growth. • Implementation of new behavioural and functional competencies to help drive people development.• Significant career progression and very low churn rate within the team. Client Service Manager (Microsoft) – March’10 to Oct’10Relationship management of key account and management of Microsoft’s national field sales and training team, in addition to managing their “Guru” sales team based in DSGi concessions.Key Achievements:• Increasing attach rate’s within DSGi stores to make the UK Guru team the most successful globally.• Implementation of the Office 2010 launch in retail, which was their most successful software launch in recent years.• Recruited and developed an additional Field sales team focused on gaming to support the launch of Kinect. Client Service Manager (HP) – Aug’09 to March’10Relationship management of key account and management of HP’s national field sales and training team, in addition to managing their SiS sales team based in DSGi concessions.Key Achievements:• Expanding “Store in Store” concessions within DSGi from 10 to 22 nationally• Increasing AUP and attach rates within SiS concessions through training and development of the team and improved customer demonstrations.• Launched 18 “HP Zones” – mini DSGi concessions focused on printing solutions only manned at weekends.• Expanded the Field Sales team by 8 heads and split into two national teams, one experts on printing, the other personal computing.

Senior Account Manager (British American Tobacco) – April’07 to Aug’09Account Manager (Electronic Arts) – Jan’07 to April’07Relationship management of key account providing customer contact solutions through a core Field Sales Team, Tactical Field Team, Telesales and Direct Mail.Key Achievements• Winning “Best new comer to the business for 2007”• Developed growth in key account from £1.4m to £4.2m by:• Growth in contractual team and increase in breadth of customer contact to include Distributive and Grocery Multiples.• Launched new HORECA team in London• Launched new team in Ireland• Growth in TM / DM utilisation• Growth in depth and breadth of tactical usage• Very successful launch of NPD in “Dark market” which went on to win “Best new non-food product 2008” at the Asian Trader Awards• Managed several large projects to exceed client expectations including:• 2 Core team re-structures• Implementation of new teams (Ireland & HORECA)• Improved Tactical delivery• Roll out of Seibel CRM across core team• Achieved over 200% against KPI’s in first month in the role• Substantially improved client integration and visibility• Achieved “preferred supplier” status

Partnership Manager – Sept ’05 to Jan’07Relationship management of key accounts (mainly blue-chip retailers)Key Achievements• Successfully launched and implemented a new key account, requiring a bespoke storecard programme which involved developing many new processes in order to meet the retailers’ needs. This resulted in an additional £12 million turnover in first year.• Achieved all KPI’s for all clients for 2005, despite the difficult economic climate. • Established influential and credible relationships with all key contacts. • Developed and implemented quality business strategies for clients to achieve mutually profitable results.• Added value to Creations commercial proposition through the development of new products such as gift card and promotional credit. • Successfully sold and implemented new products into a major client.• Control of budget and brand profit contribution.• Delivered quality and timely analysis both internally and externally. Retail Executive – Sept 04’ to Sept’05Driving the performance of quality store card recruitment within chosen brands through development and implementation of retail brand strategy in order to exceed business KPI’s. Key Achievements• Achieved +125% LFL growth for recruitment within Creation’s largest account over Oct, Nov, & Dec ’04.• Reduced training costs by 40%, whilst improving product knowledge through the introduction of a new motivational role within a key account.• Created bespoke incentive packages for individual clients resulting in an uplift of store card applications of up to 35%.

Key Achievements • Managed 7 stores and reported directly to the Retail Director and Regional Manager (North), deputising for the latter in his absence. • Consistently delivered strong LFL performance from all my stores including a flagship site in the Mailbox in Birmingham despite the opening of the Bull Ring.• Introduced company standard office systems across the company and heavily contributing to the policies and procedures handbook.• Successfully managed the opening of 7 new stores and 1 store relocation, including liaising with shop fitters, recruitment of staff and managers, facilitating training, stock package allocation and merchandising.• Produced all visual merchandising guidelines as part of a team of four.

Key Achievements• Recruited as part of an initial team of four to assist in the launch of the brand. • Successfully organised the opening of over 18 new stores, from liaising with shop fitters, to recruiting managers and staff, training and merchandising.• Achieved the highest sales out of over 120 stores both on quantity and quality for the opening week of my store, and never dropped from the top five.• Developed new stock control and security procedures, as well as writing several training packs improving both staff sales skills and product knowledge.

National Diploma, • Hotel, Catering & Institutional Management

• Seven G.C.S.E.’S Grade A-C Including Maths And English