We are pleased to welcome our new Business Development Manager Ben East to the i247 Group family.
Utilising his knowledge of the Automotive market, as well drawing on the wealth of experience within the i247 groups Management team, Ben has identified the group’s solutions can be a real ‘game changer’ for many automotive and fleet organisations both locally and nationally.
To get to know Ben a little more, we asked him a few questions.
What has been your biggest achievement so far in business?
Straight after completing my University degree, I was offered a Business Development Manager role at Sandown Mercedes. A challenging role, especially at the age of 21, trying to convince senior fleet decision makers to change their fleet of vehicles to Mercedes-Benz.
Who’s had the most influence on your career?
A bit cliché I know but my wife – after moving through the ranks at Mercedes, I decided to pursue a (slight) change of career direction. Without her support/ advice I don’t think I would be doing what I am doing now.
Have you set yourself some goals for your new career at the i247 Group, and conversely what do you think your biggest challenges will be?
Absolutely, I am already implementing the initial stages of my ’90-day plan’. I’ve joined during a very exciting time for the business and I am keen to become instrumental in its future.
Whilst the huge success of the i247 Group has been built on the foundations of in depth knowledge of the Fleet industry, I do believe that our services extend beyond this. Knowing the challenges faced within the day-to-day operations of a dealership & manufacturers I am very keen to speak with professionals within this sector who are looking at reducing costs, reducing administration burden and trusting in a forward-thinking organisation. (Don’t be afraid to invite me for a cup of coffee or a game of Golf!)
Regarding the challenges, it is very apparent that the industry is caught up in a ‘do as we have always done’ mindset. The market is changing, and we can no longer ignore that, however convincing management that change is inevitable for long term success may be troublesome – but I am certainly up for the challenge!
What value do you think you can add at the i247 Group?
Well on a Friday at around 4pm we have a Darts tournament in the office (Sales Vs Operations). Although having not played Darts too much in the past, it hasn’t taken me too long to get my head around the game. I have a feeling we have a few wins coming up in the not so distant future…
I am only kidding. Based on my previous experience working within a dealership for several years, with strong manufacturer influence I would like to think I understand the market. With this insight I have already identified how our diverse product and service offering can be tailored specifically to address issues and challenges within this sector.
Prior to joining the i247 Group, Ben worked for Sandown at Mercedes-Benz in Poole for 7 years through various roles, working with both B2B and B2C. Prior to this he studied International Business at Bournemouth University.
Ben says: “My aim is to support, enhance and redefine current customers service offerings as well as build new customer journeys for other businesses, the future looks really exciting for me at the i247 Group”.
Why not connect with Ben on LinkedIn here.
Visit i247 Group website here or call 01202 628282.