About People Sales manager for Agrifac
Recruitment and About People Email: classified@farmersguide.co.uk
Agrifac has appointed Jake Blanshard as sales manager for the company’s Holmer Exxact and Zunhammer brands. A Royal Agricultural University graduate, Jake possesses a wealth
Area sales manager for Vantage of knowledge of slurry and digestate handling equipment, and extensive industry expertise, says Agrifac. This, combined with his agricultural background, will enable him to continue to support the company’s customer base with the highest level of service, adds the firm.
Special vehicles appointment Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK has appointed Katie Purcell to the position of head of Special Trucks – Unimog. In her new role Katie reports to Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK managing director Mike Belk, and is responsible for driving sales within the Special Vehicles sector. Although she is based in
Milton Keynes, Katie will regularly travel around the country visiting customers and dealer partners. Commenting on her appointment, Katie said: “I am excited by the opportunity to set the strategy and grow the Unimog business in the UK. One of my first priorities will be to raise this halo product’s profile in the market, ensuring people understand what it stands for and appreciate what it offers.”
Regional sales manager for Scotland Horsch has appointed Alastair Orr as its regional sales manager for Scotland, Ireland and Northern England. Alastair is taking over from Jimmie Carver, who is retiring at the end of March after supporting dealers in the area for more than 15 years. “Jimmie is very well respected, and I’ve been working closely with
him during this transition. He’s provided amazing support to dealers and customers and I look forward to carrying on his good work,” said Alastair. Alastair worked as sprayer and potato harvester driver at Meikleour Estate in Perthshire for five years before joining ScanStone potato systems. Based out of Forfar, Alastair was responsible for ScanStone’s sales and demonstrations across Scotland.
Strong leadership for 2019 York-based arable machinery specialist Sumo has strengthened its leadership team with some new appointments. Mark Curtis has been promoted to sales director and is responsible for overall sales and aftersales. Tracey Roberts has been appointed as commercial and business systems director. John Richardson, the new finance director is managing accounting and financial control, concentrating on the profitable long-term growth of the business. Also joining the senior management team is Mark Henson, head of Manufacturing. Mark brings a wealth of operational improvement experience gained in both precision engineering and
manufacturing assembly businesses across Europe. As well as the new senior management team, Sumo has also appointed new staff in most areas of the business including marketing, sales, design engineering, fabrication and manufacturing. “The last few months at Sumo have been fantastic,” said managing director Steve English (left): “It’s an exciting time to be here at Sumo UK. We’ve got a brand-new management team in place and we’re dedicated to building innovative arable machinery to help farms be more productive.”
Trimble resellers Vantage England & Wales, formerly AS Communications, has announced the appointment of Alex Pascoe as the company’s new area sales manager for central England. With a wide range of agricultural experience he is ideally placed to help customers with their precision farming needs, said the company. “I am very pleased to have
joined the team at Vantage England & Wales,” commented Alex. “Precision ag technology is developing very quickly across the industry. It is the best way to maximise farm efficiency and productivity to help farmers reach maximum profitability. I am really looking forward to getting out and meeting farmers to help them find the best solutions for all their precision farming needs.” Alex Pascoe can be contacted on 07824 660600, or by email: alexp@ascomunications.co.uk.
Recent arrivals at Fendt Recent arrivals at Fendt UK include Simon Hewitt, who assumes the role of area sales manager, Combines & Application Equipment, for the north of England. He joins from Alo, where he was an area manager looking after dealerships across central UK. New Fendt tractor product specialist, Peter Henson, has joined from Amazone where for the past four years he dealt with the company’s range of sprayers and ground care equipment, delivering training, installations and responding to customer’ technical queries. Finally, Sam Treadgold (top right) has been appointed to the position of product support
specialist for grass equipment, covering the UK and Ireland. He came to Fendt from a contracting/ farming business and has a wealth of operational experience in the field, says the company. He’ll be working closely with Dan Woodward and the rest of the Fendt team, boosting the level of customer support available for mowers, tedders, rakes, round and large square balers, together with the Tigo loader wagons. Fendt’s national sales manager for the UK and Ireland, Martin Hamer, believes the arrival of the new members will further enhance Fendt’s all-round offer. “We’re pleased to welcome these very capable people to the team,” he said, “and feel sure that the major beneficiaries of their presence will be our customers.”
John Deere announces management changes John Deere has announced changes to its European senior management team. Dennis Docherty has been appointed vice-president, agriculture & turf sales and marketing for Europe, North Africa and the Near & Middle East. He succeeds Christoph Wigger, who has been appointed vice-president, global crop care platform for Deere’s worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division. Since Mr Docherty joined John Deere in 1998 he has held
numerous roles with increasing responsibilities in sales, strategic planning and marketing for both key divisions of Deere & Company, Construction & Forestry and Agriculture & Turf. In his new role, Christoph Wigger, who joined John Deere in 1991, will focus on expanding the company’s crop care portfolio with special emphasis on precision agriculture, as John Deere seeks to further grow its global leadership position in this area. He will also define growth strategies for recently acquired companies such as PLA, Mazzotti and King Agro, and drive the introduction of Blue River’s precision farming technology, says the company.
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