Richard Blain
Staffordshire
Summary
Dynamic professional with expertise in sales strategies, project management, and account management. Demonstrates proficiency in sales techniques and data analysis to drive business growth and enhance relationship management. Committed to leveraging skills to achieve organisational objectives and foster long-term client partnerships.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Business Development & Frameworks (National Sales)
Rexel UK
2025.04 - 2025.07
- Reporting directly to the UK Sales Director, with 4 x direct reports. Driving profitable growth and Management of National Accounts across large C&I, Industrial & Facilities Management sector.
- Bid Process Management: Lead a professional process of securing new business through National bid team, I have developed pricing strategies, customer proposals, and delivered impactful presentations to clients.
- Lead & motivate internal senior management engagement, this helped quickly mobilise preferred status contracts and land the KPI’s and added value service & solutions.
- Build & retain strong relationships with senior contacts of strategic National Accounts.
Head of Sales & Operations – Southeast
Rexel UK
2022.01 - 2025.04
- Reporting directly to the UK Board, with P&L Management of over 60m Sales, 21 Branches and 3 x delivery Hubs, covering Southeast & Hampshire Region.
- Motivational Leadership and coaching of all direct reports across Business Manager's, Sales Team & Operational Services.
- Strong Sales & Profit growth + 7% delivered across three-year period, with strategic opex savings and EPS Improvements.
Area Sales Manager – Northwest Operations
Rexel UK
2019.01 - 2022.12
- Develop and drive a team of sales executives and key account managers to achieve sales & profit targets both Individually and collectively, accountable for over 36m annual budget, increased YOY Sales 8%.
- Creating specific key objectives to develop and coach the team with clear requirements on quality, direction and quantity.
- I led our UK adoption of CRM tool (Vecta) and effective recording of visits and follow up activities.
- Effective management of external sales recruitment, on-boarding (induction) and on-going coaching to drive performance levels.
- Achievement of all Quarterly Sales & Profit targets, growing live trading accounts by 300.
National Sales Manager (Industrial & Facilities Management)
Rexel UK
2014.01 - 2018.12
- Responsible for direct management of 14 National Account Manager's in both Industrial & FM Sector with a growth budget of over £50m, increasing market share and new business inline with our vertical growth strategy.
- Several single source agreements with National clients including productivity solutions in Smartstores / van-stock and third-party supplier agreements.
- Identify talented people from both internal and external resources, developing their career progression with regular recognition creating a positive and highly motivated team.
National Account Manager
Rexel UK
2009.05 - 2014.12
- Responsible for management and accountability to retain and grow specific nominated national accounts with over 14m annual budget in C&I market sector.
- Developed excellent levels of collaboration and communications with internal senior regional management, working closely to ensure clients service requirements were achieved.
- Co-ordinated several Blue-Chip projects from initial tender stage to negotiating and setting up service agreements, awarded major projects Including Royal Liverpool Hospital, Blackfriars (Rail) – London, Media City - Manchester and Heathrow Airport T2B & T2A.
- Rexel UK – Outstanding Contribution Award 2013.
Regional Cluster Manager
Newey & Eyre Ltd
2006.11 - 2009.04
- Responsible for coaching and management of 5 x branches throughout the Manchester area.
- Developed and implemented a strategic business plan in partnership with my Regional Sales Director driving sales and gross margin across all branches achieving yearly EBITA growth.
Branch Manager (Stoke & Salford)
Newey & Eyre Ltd
2003.04 - 2006.11
- As part of my development, I took on the challenge to recover low performing key branches, this proved to be excellent training in re-organisation of Internal & external teams, with key objectives to deliver profitable EBITA, creating a sustainable team to support continued growth.
- EBITA Profit achieved in both branches, created recovery plan template used throughout region for successful format.
Regional Project Manager
Hagemeyer UK
2003.04 - 2004.06
- I was briefed to create a Project Office to offer a completely new service to support the major C&I contractors in the Northwest, creating a more profitable solution and unique service for the customer's when managing major projects.
- Pipeline of 16m in Project Sales – Sold on customer service and major project management as a productivity solution.
Education
O level - English, Geography
Senior Management / Leadership Course
Aspire Internal Qualification - undefined
Senior Leadership Course - undefined
Avanti
2023.01 - 2024.01
Skills
- Sales strategies
- Project Management
- Account management
- Sales techniques
- Sales data analysis
- Relationship Management
Custom
- Keen golfer
- Walking
- Watching football
- Refurbishing a property in France
- Learning the language
Timeline
Head of Business Development & Frameworks (National Sales)
Rexel UK
2025.04 - 2025.07
Senior Leadership Course - undefined
Avanti
2023.01 - 2024.01
Head of Sales & Operations – Southeast
Rexel UK
2022.01 - 2025.04
Area Sales Manager – Northwest Operations
Rexel UK
2019.01 - 2022.12
National Sales Manager (Industrial & Facilities Management)
Rexel UK
2014.01 - 2018.12
National Account Manager
Rexel UK
2009.05 - 2014.12
Regional Cluster Manager
Newey & Eyre Ltd
2006.11 - 2009.04
Branch Manager (Stoke & Salford)
Newey & Eyre Ltd
2003.04 - 2006.11
Regional Project Manager
Hagemeyer UK
2003.04 - 2004.06
Aspire Internal Qualification - undefined
O level - English, Geography
Senior Management / Leadership Course