Position/Company: Sales Manager South Europe AkzoNobel;

Experience: 17 years in industry.

 

 

- Even though we have a very strong market share at group level, in your country, after the economic crisis, we had less exposure. However, two years ago, we started a very complex project to revitalize our brand in a market with strong growing prospects. Our goal is, more specifically, to become a true leader, just like we are in the other regions where our group is active.
- What are the milestones of your strategy?

- The starting point was to build a high performing local team and to improve the distribution chain, to maximize the satisfaction of our clients in terms of delivery terms. That’s why we started a partnership with a professional logistics park in the northern part of Romania, in Cluj count. This partnership, in addition to the existing warehouse in Bucharest (through our partnership with Color Magic) will ensure future full coverage of the country. Our products for the wood coatings segment will be available from now on in two main categories: one, for exterior joinery under the name of Sikkens Wood Coatings, and the other for interior solutions under the name of AkzoNobel Wood Coatings. Therefore, in the future it will be easier for our clients to differentiate between our product offerings. The next step will consist in starting a professional communication campaign, to better highlight all of our initiatives and the beneficial impacts to our customers.
- To what extent do you estimate all of this will impact the results in Romania?

- Last year, we managed to sell 7 million euros worth of products, and management’s target is to double this figure in three years, in an organic manner. This is a tangible goal and we will pursue it very closely. Romania is a good market for companies which promote quality and performance products and that’s why we are quite optimistic.
- What about the general prospect of development in the short and medium term?

- We will continue to follow four main directions, namely: promoting only high quality products and services; launching our new 10 years warranty and 4 new products; offering to our clients superior techniques of coloring (in more than 8,000 tints); and shortening the delivery terms as much as possible. We strongly believe that this is the recipe of success in our field of activity.