Transitioning from the office automation (OA) industry to managing sales in the north of the UK and Ireland for METRIC Group Ltd has been an exciting new chapter in my career.As a global supplier of Parking Management and Payment Service Automation solutions, METRIC Group offered the opportunity to explore a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector.My role as Sales Manager entails overseeing sales operations and strategies in the northern region of the UK and Ireland and contributing to the expansion and growth of METRIC Group's market presence in these areas. With the company's wide range of offerings, including smarter city payment and advanced parking solutions, I engage with a diverse clientele ranging from Government bodies to private companies.With METRIC Group's global track record of installations across numerous countries, including over 100,000 parking systems in more than 45 countries, we have a worldwide presence. My role involves leveraging this experience and expertise and drive sales growth.Overall, the move to METRIC Group has presented an exciting opportunity to apply my experience, skills and expertise in a new industry and I am enjoying contributing to the company's continued success.

I had a significant role in managing the Scottish headquarters of Danwood, the largest independent specialist in managed print and document centric services in the UK. During my time there, I was able to refresh the sales team by recruiting new talent and introduce new software products and services. However, Danwood was eventually acquired by Apogee Corporation in May 2017, and less than a year later, Apogee itself was acquired by Hewlett Packard. Given the major disruptions in the industry, it was an easy decision to explore new and fresh opportunities outside of my long-standing career in this field.

After the Concept acquisition by Xerox, this new company was formed to fill the void and become the new Canon partner in Scotland . I was a co-founder, shareholder and Sales Director .. We successfully established this new start business and eventually became Canon's largest provider of OA in Scotland. However another valuable lesson was learned about how people react under pressure and it became clear the management team was not aligned in the direction the company should take for future growth. For that reason, it was time to move on.

I had an interesting journey with Concept Group, starting from a middle management role and ultimately reaching the prestigious position of Branch Manager for the flagship Glasgow office. Transitioning through an acquisition can often be challenging, but it proved to be highly successful.Throughout the 13 years with Concept, I gained valuable experience in leadership, operations management, and became an expert in sales and customer service within the office equipment industry. My ability to rise through the ranks was the rewards for the dedication, skillset, work ethic and capacity to adapt.As Branch Manager of the Glasgow office, I have had significant responsibilities in overseeing the entire Sales operation, recruiting, training and driving sales, and maintaining relationships with key partners like Sharp, Canon, and Xerox. This role required strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of both the market and the company's objectives. Reporting directly to the Manging Director, allowed me the opportunity to become comfortable communicating at board level.With Concept's acquisition by Xerox, it was clear my future career growth would mean seeking different challenges elsewhere..

With only 12 month commercial experience, I formed a start-up business with two other colleagues to capture a share of the embryonic analogue to digital market revolution. The journey from a small start up to one of the largest suppliers in the central belt of Scotland was a remarkable experience. Despite starting with minimal resources and facing significant challenges, our determination and hard work led to remarkable growth and success over the span of 11 years.Building a business from scratch, especially in a rapidly evolving market during the analogue to digital transition, requires innovation, adaptability, and perseverance. The experience gained in identifying opportunities and capitalizes on them, even with fierce competition from established competitors was truly life changing.The fact that our company was eventually acquired by a major competitor like Concept Group is a testament to the impact and value we created in the market. It reflects not only the success of our business but also the recognition of our achievements by industry leaders.

My first entry into the world of business to business sales. The product I was taking to market was a revolutionary new fangled device called a Facsimile machine. They became rather popular!