Ray Isted Email & Phone Number

Croydon Surrey

Responsible for managing product and associated sales techniques training for the business and working closely with the sales and marketing department to promote the Whirlpool brandKey Achievements: Managed the introduction of Whirlpool UK's first on-line training tool specifically aimed at retail staff, rolling this out across the UK both to in-house teams and to key retailers, selected to work with Whirlpool’s European team to improve site content as a result of successes Responded to demand from retailers for increased in-store training, collaborating with a number of key UK retailers, including Currys, Comet, B&Q and numerous online and independent retailers to develop specific training programmes for store staff Worked with B&Q’s learning and development management team to implement an effective means of training all of its kitchen showroom staff via a road show format, leading to the organising and running of a series of road show events for B&Q around the UK. Successfully championed the idea of using external training consultants to deliver retailer product training and recruited, selected, trained and managed the team to promote Whirlpool products in key stores UK-wide Collaborated with an external agency to develop an interactive case study based training tool to assist with in-store training, leading to more memorable training interventions requiring participants’ active involvement and ensuring that the brand and details of product features and benefits were easily remembered Facilitated training sessions for trade partners, call centre staff, builders’ show house staff and similar at a number of venues across the UK, resulting in highly positive feedback from retailers and participants on the content of the sessions, the relaxed and engaging style of delivery and on the interactive nature of the training

Croydon, United Kingdom

Responsible for all aspects of communications across both freestanding and built-in business groups, including managing both above and below the line communications budgets for these areas Key Achievements: Performed as a member of the global communications team as part of a diverse and geographically dispersed group,  Undertook the role of Web Master, managing and overseeing the introduction of Whirlpool UK’s first website Acted as main contact and owner of all UK activity relating to Whirlpool’s chosen global charity: Habitat For Humanity in the UK, including being chosen to represent the UK at the Habitat, Jimmy Carter Work Project, in the USA, participating in the building of one of 23 homes, and being fortunate enough to be introduced to the project’s name sake in the course of the trip Oversaw consumer trade and consumer press campaigns, managing all creative aspects, including preparing scripts, and selecting preferred media Participated in the successful brand transfer of Philips to Whirlpool, managing all related communications with the trade press and trade partners Presentations at numerous events and conferences, including giving 17 presentations in a single day winning the award for best presentation in two consecutive years  Organised exhibitions, conferences, road shows and similar across the UK and Europe from initial brief through to completion, bringing all strands together to ensure success, including:o Securing and managing Whirlpool’s supply of more than 80 products for show theatres at the BBC Good Food Show for many years, becoming one of the preferred suppliers as a consequenceo Managing a trade and consumer media luncheon event for the visit of the President of Whirlpool Europe as a part of Whirlpool’s centenary celebrations o Managing and supporting Whirlpool UKs involvement with the World Tennis Association (WTA) tour at two venues in the UK