PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH: DAVID COXHEAD National Sales Director – Fusion Utilities
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it? National Sales Director – Fusion Utilities – I have been in the role almost 7 years – but its very different now to what it was 7 years ago.
What does your role entail? Working with the Utilities sales teams to ensure that we provide the best possible value and service to our customers. If we focus on this – everything else we need to achieve will follow.
How did you get started in this industry? Pure chance – an introduction at a hospitality event with the then MD of Fusion Provida. A meeting of minds and outlooks resulted in a phone call and a few meetings after that. About a month later was the National Sales office Manager at Fusion Provida.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? Roles before this were sales management roles. However, I started back in the 80’s literally knocking doors selling photocopiers. I progressed, became a member of the institute of sales and marketing and began to focus on sales management. I spent 10 years with Triumph Motorcycles as the field sales Manager, ran my own business with my brother and a national sales manager with a CCTV distribution company. I knew sales – but had to learn Utilities. 15 and a half years on I am still learning every day and loving it.
What would you like to achieve in your role? To be the very best I can at what I do. The
Jen Cassidy has officially assumed the role of CEO of the Bristan Group, following the retirement of Martin Mongan at the end of
2024. Cassidy joined the Bristan Group in 2021 as chief marketing officer following a career that included senior roles with Wolseley, Kohler Mira and more latterly, Linn Products. Whilst at the Bristan Group she progressed to chief commercial officer.
quest to be better never ends. Whether that is delivering fantastic customer service or delivering the best return possible for the business. You are never done if like me you are driven in that way.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Being a member of the Wolseley Infrastructure Leadership Team is a highlight for me. Clawing back a massive loss in our own business to a positive proposition was also massive, but a lot of the highlights in my career have been about the team members that have been part of my teams progress. Helping people develop, grow and achieve in their careers and lives is brilliant. It’s a privilege to have been able to be part of so many peoples journey in a positive way. It’s a fantastic legacy.
What do you see as the main issues for builders merchants and for the construction industry at the moment? The demographic of the workforce is aging. It’s a great market to work in but we need to get that message out there to the younger generation who are the future of Utilities distribution. Passing the knowledge to the younger team members and attracting new ones is a challenge. We pride ourselves on our technical support and being able to help and advise the people who are building and repairing utility assets. Likewise with the people procuring the materials and hiring the equipment. Retaining and growing that foundation of people is a major concern at the moment.
Roofing and rainwater goods company Lindab Ltd has announced the appointment of Nick Glover as its new national sales manager for its Profile business.
Glover brings with him 22
years of extensive experience in the building products sector, particularly within the drainage and roofline markets. He said: “I am thrilled to join Lindab and contribute to the growth of the Profile business. Our goal is to continue providing builders merchants with reliable, user-friendly solutions.”.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2025
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
I lost time early on in my working life. I actually started life as a chef. I was too focussed on short term and just having a good time. I never really thought about what I really wanted to do – I fell into sales really. My advice would be slow down – think, what industry do you want to be in and how do you do that? Its more luck than judgement that I am an industry, business and role that I love and enjoy.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? I love time with my family and friends, I love riding my Ducati in summer and clay shooting in the winter and just exercise, whether it’s a walk in Chatsworth or a spin bike or rowing session
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking? Depends where and when – around home – probably Neck Oil, on holiday, probably Negroni
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film?
Book – Shoe Dog – recommended to me by a work colleague. Literally couldn’t leave it alone. Film – Either of the first two Bourne films
If you could be a superhero, which super- power would you choose? See into the future man! BMJ
ON THE MOVE
Drylining, insulation and M&E solutions distributor etag has appointed Michael Kelly as its sales director for the Irish market, harnessing over 20 years of experience in the industry to elevate the company’s position in
the construction sector.
Kelly originally joined the industry with Heat Merchants, beginning with a summer job and then progressing with the company over 14 years to become a branch manager and regional sales manager.
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