Name: Guy Overton
Job title: Regional Account Manager
Tell us a bit about yourself
A geordie lad who’s never left his castle. Born and bred on Tyneside in the 90s, I’ve grown up with the smell of Greggs around every corner. A loyal black and white who’ll never turn down a bottle of brown on a Saturday afternoon.
I currently live just outside the city centre in Newcastle with my partner Eve who’s a pharmacist at our local hospitals. We both recently completed our first ever half marathon, the Great North Run.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
I drive a car around the top of England and Scotland selling big potties to companies who want new ones.
What do you like most about your job?
I really enjoy being out and about speaking to customers on a day-to-day basis. I have a great team around me who I can’t credit enough, and I feel we make a great impact on the industry around us. At the end of the day, people buy from people.
How did you get here?
Started my journey off five years ago working for Stelrad as a brand specialist, like what I do now but at a graduate level. I was with Stelrad for around a year or so before the dreaded Covid hit and I was made redundant not so long after.
Following that, I took a desk job at a local firm for a few months to keep things ticking over.
In January 2021, I went to work for AG Barr in the FMCG market, manufacturers of Irn Bru, Rubicon, D&B (Dandelion and Burdock) and so many other of the nation’s favourite drinks. I started off as a business development representative selling drinks into local convenience retailers and then moving into multiples.
I was then offered the role of local business development manager working with our wholesale customers, managing stock, and selling into regional and national accounts. Finally, I moved into the out of home sector to manage our distribution in schools, manufacturing sites and the NHS.
I had always wanted to get back into the plumbing and heating sector, so when the opportunity of working for Ideal Standard came along, I couldn’t say no.
What motivates you?
Having worked in sales throughout my career, there is nothing better than a win. Alongside this, providing solutions for our customers always puts a smile on my face.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
To be honest, I’m very happy where I am.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
“It’s cold up there in summer, it’s like sitting inside a fridge” – Busker – Home Newcastle – 1986.
Your favourite app?
X formerly known as Twitter (how I will always refer to it). My place for news, sport, conspiracy theories and a quick laugh.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
At my former employer, I was on the phone to my manager and said ‘bye, love you’ at the end of our conversation, as if I was speaking to my partner, awkward.