The life of an Area Sales Manager at Atlas Copco UK

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you find out about Atlas Copco and get started here?

I found Atlas Copco whilst visiting Kenya! I realised its global presence and how highly diverse of a company that it is and knew I wanted to find out more about the company.  I learned about an opening in the custom engineering division in Hemel Hempstead which would allow me to understand bespoke engineering solutions from the ground up. I was ready to dive in, work hard, and learn an aspect of engineering that was new to me.  After meeting with the team and talking more about how I could develop my career path within Atlas Copco, it was a no-brainer. I’ve been here for 3 years now and have since transitioned into an area sales manager role.  So why did you first choose to pursue a career as a Sales Engineer?   Since graduating from University with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, I have always been interested in technical sales. The main thing for me is the variety - no day is the same really. To give you an example... Yesterday I was working on specifying a nitrogen generation system for a battery manufacturer and today I’ve been working on a project which would involve specifying an Atlas Copco product for plastic recycling processes. That’s exactly what I wanted – a career where no day is the same and I have enjoyed working with companies in different industries!

I’ve been in this role for just over 2 years now and every day is different. I’ve always loved challenging myself and learning from those challenges. One thing I can assure you is that I am constantly challenged technically in this role. As a sales engineer, the possibilities are limitless. The team is composed of a collection of experts across various compressed air and industrial gas applications which are both highly utilised within the manufacturing industry with complexities I can really sink my teeth into. 

What does a typical day in the life of an Area Sales Manager look like for you?  If you were to look at the standard definition of an area sales manager, you would be a little misguided. It says an area sales manager is someone responsible for overseeing sales operations and meeting targets. While the above does come true in reality, it is a little more than that. I manage sales for the South West region. I meet numerous customers throughout the day. Customers require new machines, or perhaps want to get more out of their existing machines or have a new project in the pipeline, the list goes on.  

I want them to feel completely comfortable with their equipment configuration and set them up for success. When I’m not working with customers, I’m collaborating with other departments internally. My goal there is to extract technical information and to help collaborate on customer projects.  

Are there any achievements that you’re particularly proud of?

All of them. Our work with companies and contractors across various industries has been incredibly rewarding. These industries include aerospace, energy, electronics, construction, defence, healthcare and food and beverage. The list is endless, so this has been a big plus for me. Naturally, that means exposure and increasing my knowledge of various applications as well as consistent delivery of good value to every customer.