- Keeping UpToDate with current affairs
- Walking and enjoying the countryside
- Football watching and playing
- Spending time with family and friends
SIMON CROOKES
Dronfield,Derbyshire
Summary
Commercially focused international application and sales professional with 28+ years’ experience across application engineering, national sales, business development, and key account management. Consistent performance in building accounts and managing customer relationships at all levels. Track record of exceeding sales targets through data-driven planning and execution.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development Manager
Briggs Safetywear
08.2025 - Current
- Responsible for the prospect, management and follow up of new and existing corporate sales and for expanding business-to-business sales.
- Key Responsibilities include :
- Identifying new business opportunities, including new markets, new clients, new partnerships or new products and services
- Creating strategies to successfully reach new business opportunities
- Building relationships with new clients, gauging their needs and developing proposals to address these needs
- Maintaining and developing relationships with current clients
- Pitching sales and products to new and existing clients
- Attending conferences and events to build relationships with industry partners and staying up to date with new trends
- Creating sales forecasts and actively working towards reaching them
- Possessing a strong understanding of the company’s products, the competition in the industry and positioning
- Managing and training a business development team
- Collaborating with design and sales teams to ensure that all requirements are met
- North of England / North Wales / Scotland
Application Engineer / BDM
Tyrolit
08.2023 - 07.2025
- Responsible for demonstrations training and implementation of products and portfolio, growing business and extending the reach of products and services in order to increase revenue, identify new business leads, pitch the company's goods and services, support, resolve and overcome objections by developing and implementing new ideas, and build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients.
- Key responsibilities include:
- Identifying opportunities in target markets for the organisation’s products and services
- Generating leads through cold calling prospective clients or networking at trade shows
- Developing and nurturing relationships with key customer accounts
- Keeping up with the latest industry developments, including market positioning of corporate competitors
- Assessing client needs and the company’s ability to meet those needs
- Following up with new leads and referrals generated from the sales team
- Preparing status reports demonstrating training of portfolio products
- Using customer relationship management (CRM) software, such as Salesforce, to manage interactions
- International
Area Sales Manager
Hermes Abrasives Ltd
02.2020 - 08.2023
- Responsible for new business development, identifying and targeting new accounts and managing and developing existing accounts, with strong communication and personal skills.
- Key responsibilities include:
- To develop new sales targets and manage the sales process to new client acquisition.
- Assist in follow up of enquiries and quotations.
- To manage, maintain and develop existing accounts, negotiate contracts and consignment stock onsite and at hub.
- Work with the client to identify specific needs including providing details to allow prompt conversion of enquiry into quotation.
- Onsite demonstration of new and existing products.
- Building strong commercial and long-term relationships with prospects and clients, which influence the loyalty towards the business.
- Maintain customer records and fully utilise the CRM system.
- Create regional sales plans and quotas in alignment with business objectives.
- Analyse regional market trends and discover new opportunities for growth.
- Prepare and review the annual budget for the area of responsibility.
- Report on regional sales results.
- Address potential problems and suggest prompt solutions.
- Participate in discussions for expansion.
- Interact with sales office support and work effectively to ensure good communication between all parties.
- Suggest new products and innovative sales techniques to increase customer satisfaction.
- Co-operate with other departments by maintaining good lines of communication and recognition of overlapping problems.
Area Sales Manager
VSM Abrasives
11.2016 - 01.2020
- Responsible for the generation and development of new strategic business opportunities and building business-to-business relationships and continuous account management.
- Key responsibilities include:
- To develop new business relationships, generate and negotiate new income to an agreed annual target
- Manage the sales process, lead generation, develop prospects and acquisition of new customers
- Manage and develop existing accounts and negotiate commercial terms and contracts
- Manage product/service mix, pricing and margins according to agreed aims attend and present at external customers meetings and internal meetings to aid business development
- Maintain and develop business development pipeline ensuring all sales administration is current using latest sales software
- Interact with other departments/Area sales Managers/Subsidiaries as and when required.
- Identify and suggest customer service/product/manufacturing improvements where appropriate
- Prepare and submit budgets and forecasts when required
- Monitor and report on market and competitor activities and provide relevant reports and information
National Sales Account Manager
Swedex UK Ltd
09.2014 - 11.2016
- Responsible for new business-to-business sales around the UK and for account management of all businesses, from small enterprises to large multi-million turnover
- Corporate relationships, including some of the largest sawmills in the UK, for consulting with these businesses and advising on best practice and problem solving.
- Key responsibilities included:
- New business development.
- Building strong commercial and long-term relationships with both new prospects and existing clients.
- Understanding client requirements at both a strategic and tactical level to be able to offer the best business solutions.
- Identifying new opportunities for product development within designated market sectors on an autonomous basis.
- Understanding added value opportunities.
- Achieving and overachieving on personal KPis and sales targets.
- Submitting monthly performance reports/Ml to the Board.
- Undertaking additional duties as required, including office/workshop-based responsibilities.
Local Business Development Manager
Gilder Group Ltd — Van Centre (Sheffield & Newark)
07.2012 - 09.2014
- Responsible for the prospect, management and follow up of new corporate sales and for expanding business-to-business sales.
- Proactively seeking and securing repeat and additional vehicle sales using prospecting, follow-up, referral and other available methods.
- Ensuring that all customers are properly qualified in respect of methods of vehicle funding and quotations.
- Business to business relationship management, securing both new relationships and maintaining good relations with existing customer base.
- Striving to delight customers and working towards achieving the highest degree of customer satisfaction.
- Maximising the profit on each unit sold and working with the dealership's agreed sales process and methods and various stakeholder teams.
- Enhancing the reputation of the Gilder Van Centre at every opportunity when interacting with individuals and businesses alike.
Sales Executive
Gilder Group Ltd - Doncaster Audi
07.2009 - 07.2012
- Re-appointed based on previous success/merit at the company to assist Doncaster Audi in achieving its targets to become the leading Audi dealership in the area for sales.
- Generating sales from face-to-face contact, telephone calls into the dealership, asking existing clients for referrals, and developing effective and ongoing relationships with these customers.
- Identifying customer needs proactively and selling the benefits of the product to their specific needs. Maximising opportunities for finance sales by aligning products with the customer's individual needs/circumstances.
- Delivering service to agreed schedules according to customers' needs. To their satisfaction, working with these customers to secure repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals by being customer driven and through attention to detail in every deal.
- Effective use of company Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to maximise opportunities from all contacts with potential clients and to record sales activity.
- Regularly meeting quarterly targets set.
Domestic Energy Assessor (Self Employed)
01.2008 - 07.2009
- Following successful industry qualification for the surveying of domestic properties to issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in line with the Government's requirements for energy efficiency.
- Through a combination of industry networking, advertising and lead generation, I made my own appointments, qualifying diary and week plan to prioritise tasks and ensure all reports carried out as efficiently as possible.
- Successful/satisfactory delivery of service and collation of post visit reports. Post visit meeting with all clients to explain content of EPC and implications, particularly for rented property.
- Ensured compliance with industry standards, regulatory and Health and Safety requirements at all times.
Business Development Manager
I.S.L. Limited
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Undertook a business critical role to increase new sales, manage after sales, secure further, and repeat business.
- Successfully sold a full range of carbide tipped and diamond tooling and services to end users, retail and engineering, and into businesses of all sizes and levels, covering the North West and South Yorkshire.
- Started as a 100% new business role, which developed into more of an even split with account management.
- Generated a £220,000 set of accounts in year 1 from scratch.
- Actively sought out new business to grow the patch and organic growth from within by being client focused and dropping in on clients regularly through efficient journey planning.
- Monitoring stock levels and ordering from suppliers, where required.
Area Sales Executive
Ernest Bennett Ltd
07.2001 - 01.2006
- Worked as part of the field sales team for a manufacturer of TCT circular saw blades and wide band saws.
- Selling carbide saw blades and tooling to end users, business owners, engineering and retail businesses at all levels.
- Self-generating new business and managing accounts to the value of £700k across a North West patch.
- Developed the role from 100% required new business to 80% account management. Negotiated contracts and produced quotations on demand for clients.
- Ensured up-to-date knowledge and understanding of industrial tooling and other related products for all manufacturing industries.
- Self-maintained/autonomous role requiring great self-motivation and efficient organisation of territory to ensure maximum benefit gained.
- 114% of target in last year of employment.
- Formed part of an extremely successful and mutually supportive field sales team.
Sales Executive/Customer Account Manager
Gilder Group Ltd — Sheffield Volkswagen
01.1994 - 01.2001
- Appointed on merit to assist with the day-to-day running of the service and sales functions of the dealership, including people management responsibilities/oversight, looking after customer satisfaction and contributing to the overall success and achievement of targets set within the dealership.
Education
Higher National Diploma -
Home Study
2007
Skills
- Business development
- Relationship management
- Client acquisition
- Account management
- Sales forecasting
- Pipeline management
- CRM systems
- Proposal writing
- Territory planning
- Strategic networking
- Negotiation skills
- Stakeholder management
- Consultative selling
- Team leadership
- Relationship development
- Sales and market development
- Client engagement
- Business planning
- B2B sales expertise
- B2B client management
- Lead generation
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Lead generation techniques
- Negotiation tactics
- Performance goals
- Marketing strategy development
- Sales techniques
- Revenue growth strategies
- Customer retention tactics
- Brand development
- Networking ability
- Sales training
- Ability to present the company
- Warm and cold calling
- Presentations and proposals
- Leadership aptitude
- Client contract negotiations
- Training and mentoring
- Strategic decision-making
- Open and clear communicator
- Revenue development
- Market analysis
- Technical sales
- Decision-Making authority
- Sales trend analysis
- Customer relationship management software
- Brand building
- Sales pipeline management
- Product demonstration
- Sales goal attainment
- Prospecting
- Salesforce CRM
- Zoom presentations
- Complex negotiations
- Cross-functional leadership
- Market and competitive analysis
- Performance tracking and evaluations
- New account development
- Performance monitoring
- Proactive self starter
- Brand-building strategies
- Microsoft office mastery
- CRM Software proficiency
Hobbies and Interests
- Enjoy reading and keeping up-to-date on current affairs
- Going out for walks in Derbyshire
- Spending time with friends and family
Custom Section
- I am l. T. literate (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and various Customer Relationship Management and Intranet tools)
- Attended various professional development courses in sales, management, finance, time management and negotiation skills
- Continuing professional development is very important to me
Interests
Accomplishments
- Planned and coordinated many projects and demonstrations resulting in increased business and revenue
- Built and nurtured key client relationships to grow profit
- Recognised by management for leading projects delivering outstanding results through consultive and demonstrating new products
- Coordinated overseas projects and special public and private events.
- Enhanced processes, and improved new products across department for increased productivity and less breakdowns
Additional Information
- Industries and companies worked with:
•Automotive
•Aerospace
•Windpower
•Gear & Gear Grinding
•Metal Tubes and Rods
•Flat Metal
•Sheet Polishing
•Metal Fabrications
•Medical industries
•Wood industries
Trade / Retail / End Users
•Siemens
•Vestas
•Nordex
•Goldwind
•Outokumpu
•Kloeckner
•Rolls Royce
•Bentley
•Mclaren
•JCB
•Jost / Edbro
•Valmet
•Wren
•Sillavan Metal Polishes
•Valmet
•Albany
. Bifrangi UK
Timeline
Business Development Manager
Briggs Safetywear
08.2025 - Current
Application Engineer / BDM
Tyrolit
08.2023 - 07.2025
Area Sales Manager
Hermes Abrasives Ltd
02.2020 - 08.2023
Area Sales Manager
VSM Abrasives
11.2016 - 01.2020
National Sales Account Manager
Swedex UK Ltd
09.2014 - 11.2016
Local Business Development Manager
Gilder Group Ltd — Van Centre (Sheffield & Newark)
07.2012 - 09.2014
Sales Executive
Gilder Group Ltd - Doncaster Audi
07.2009 - 07.2012
Domestic Energy Assessor (Self Employed)
01.2008 - 07.2009
Business Development Manager
I.S.L. Limited
01.2006 - 01.2008
Area Sales Executive
Ernest Bennett Ltd
07.2001 - 01.2006
Sales Executive/Customer Account Manager
Gilder Group Ltd — Sheffield Volkswagen
01.1994 - 01.2001
Higher National Diploma -
Home Study