PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH: JOEL IVORY National Account Manager for Swift Electrical Merchant Division
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?
I am the National Account Manager for Swift Electrical’s Merchant Division, which we launched in August 2020.
What does your role entail? I manage all areas of the Merchant Division from customer negotiations and marketing through to forecasting product in line with demand.
How did you get started in this industry? I started in the industry at 19, when I was offered a job while doing bar work at my Local, perhaps it was my interpersonal skills that made me look like the right fit for the industry!.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? I have had a variety of job roles in my career from Sales Administrator to Area Sales Manager. I suppose what prepared me for my current job role is my experience and ability to see every stage of a process and understand in detail what is expected.
ON THE MOVE
• Stuart Mawhinney has been appointed the new managing mirector at Duct Products,following the retirement of Des
Collins. Mawhinney was previously sales director
• Insulation and interior building products distributor CCF, has announced Catherine Gibson as the new managing
director. She joins CCF from Tool Hire, also part of the Travis Perkins plc Group, where she was managing director.
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What would you like to achieve in your role?
My dream would be to really make a difference within the Merchant Sector and to make Swift Electrical the distributor of choice for all things sinks, taps & appliances.
What has been the highlight of your career so far
Well I mean being offered the role of National Account Manager so early on in my career is definitely the highlight. I am truly humbled to be in the position I am today.
What do you see as the main issues for builders merchants and for the construction industry at the moment? I believe the biggest issue is the ability for Merchants to adapt through a period where the industry is ever evolving, also becoming smarter and competitive across all regions. With the Merchant product offer becoming more attractive to the public this in turn introduces a level of competitiveness against the larger Kitchen sheds. Therefore, the Merchant needs to offer a unique range of customer service to cover all potential buyers from experienced trades
• Sunderland-based Salamander Pumps, has appointed Rhys Higgins as its new business development manager for the North West and
Midlands. His experience includes Area Sales Manager at BWT UK and Showroom Sales Manager at City Plumbing Supplies.
• Bristan Group has appointed former Hansgrohe md, Martin Mongan, as CEO from February 2021. Mongan has held
senior roles at both Kohler Mira and Jacuzzi, before joining Hansgrohe in 2011. He succeeds former CEO, Darius Padler.
people to members of the public seeking advice.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Probably just to take every day as it comes, you can always dwell on your long-term goals, but these cannot be achieved unless you make a success out of each day.
Football, rugby, cycling, golf or gardening – which one’s more likely to keep you busy at the weekends?
We got a Dog recently and named him Monty so if you can work that out from the 5 options….
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking? A pint of Stella!
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film? My favourite book is ‘Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep’ by Phillip K.Dick & My favourite film has to be ‘Interstellar’.
If you could be a superhero, what super-power would you choose? The ability to Teleport anywhere. BMJ
• Dean Pinner has been appointed managing director of Keyline Civils Specialist, having been in the same role at CCF. He previously
held the role of Keyline’s Regional Director for the Midlands and then the South West and a number of senior positions in the independent merchanting sector.
• Premier Forest Group has appointed Gary Pugh as branch manager of Mill Timber Direct, its sawmill outlet store
near Crumlin. Pugh brings a wealth of experience with him to his new role including 20 years within the builders merchant sector
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2021
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