Name: Alex Kettel.
Job title: Regional Sales Manager.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a well travelled and have lived all over the world, including a few years in New Zealand and Australia. I am a new father to a little girl. She will be a year old in May, which is a little terrifying when I think on how quickly she is growing and already has me wrapped around her finger. I am also a motorcyclist and love spending time riding my S1000XR. This year I have planned two weeks riding to the east coast of Italy and back, covering 2500 miles and camping the whole way.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
I talk to lots of people and show them how we have the best bathrooms and what they should do to have them so they can sell them. I drive all day and make sure that if anyone has a problem, I help to fix it.
What do you like most about your job?
I like talking to different people and building relationships. No two visits in a day are the same and I thrive on the challenge of getting the customers to go through promotions or displays.
How did you get here?
I started in credit control and customer services in offices for 15 years, going from litigation and repossessions through to transport and query management. I joined the trade industry around six years ago in query management and naturally progressed into sales three years ago. I joined Ideal Standard in February of this year and look forward to the work with our team.
What motivates you?
Having my own territory to manage to ensure I am integral to the region’s success and having the support from my team to help in professional development.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
I would like to have a job like Marc Marquez (motorcycle racer). Travel the world, riding motorbikes really fast and earn a fortune doing it. What’s not to like!
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
“Some like beautiful, perfect and pretty. I see the good in the bad and the ugly” – I Like It Heavy by Halestorm.
“The pen is blue, the pen is blue, the god damn pen is blue” – Liar Liar. Makes me laugh every time.
Your favourite app?
Spotify.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
Organising with a colleague to meet them at a customer location and going to totally the wrong branch and wondering where they were. I now add postcodes when I organise to meet anywhere.