Customers in the Cumbernauld region may have already heard from Gary Simpson who has joined SEW-EURODRIVE as Area Sales Manager. With previous experience in the weighing industry, he brings strong commercial insight and will have a key focus on our Standard Product range. He will work closely with our electronics and industrial gears specialists to help customers find the right solution quickly. Gary’s passionate about customer service, and even has a side hustle as a DJ!

• Gary has joined SEW-EURODRIVE with 20 years of sales experience, having previously worked with a European weighbridge supplier
• In Gary’s role as Area Sales Manager, he will be focusing on Standard Product, looking after companies in the wood and water industries
• Outside of work, Gary has been DJing for over 25 years.

So, you’ve joined SEW_EURODRIVE as Area Sales Manager, what did you do beforehand?

I worked in the weighing industry, selling anything from weigh bridges, to scales, to software systems.

It was more of a project-led sales process with a much longer cycle, unlike some of the more transactional interactions at SEW-EURODRIVE where someone needs a replacement or a fix today and it needs handling immediately.

Instead, it involved larger discussions such as replacing a weighbridge or implementing new software, often planned for a weekend and requiring conversations with multiple stakeholders, because they may have wanted more from the software than what they previously had.

How’s your role at SEW-EURODRIVE going so far?

I like that I’m going out and seeing customers myself and giving them the support they need. I have a role focused on looking after them, understanding their needs, and delivering the best possible customer service.

I basically cover Standard Product for Scotland, which opens up a massive array of products. I love it because I know that I have the full support of SEW-EURODRIVE and its stellar reputation behind me, so even if I do not know something, there is always someone there to support me in the background.

With specialists on our team in areas like electronics and industrial gears, I can go out, have those conversations confidently, and if I reach a point where I need deeper technical input, I can draw on those specialists to get the right knowledge.

What kind of customers are you working with?

We are looking after the wood industry in Scotland, which is significant, and we are also supporting the water industry, which appears to be in a period of transition as it works to upgrade itself. Those sectors are probably key.

What industry experience do you have?

I was a plant engineer by trade, covering everything from cranes and port lifts to hydraulics and electronics, which gave me a strong background understanding of operations. I have drawn on that experience throughout my sales career, which I’ve been in for around 20 years.

What’s been your proudest career and personal achievement to date?

I would probably say my proudest achievement was in my early 30s when I won a five-year contract worth £7 million with a major oil company. We were likely the smallest company bidding, and they were not satisfied with their current supplier, largely due to health and safety concerns, as the systems they were using were not fit for purpose. We developed a solution where every forklift driver had a card that they used to log in, and the card itself contained the relevant data for that driver, creating a much more controlled and accountable system.

It was a full end-to-end process for me, from physically selling the solution, to overseeing the implementation, and then becoming the Account Manager for the contract, which made it a significant achievement. While larger national providers were stepping back from strong customer engagement, we went in and asked detailed questions about bottlenecks, operational problems, and health and safety issues, taking the time to understand the business in depth. I am naturally inquisitive, and I enjoy understanding how a company operates and where improvements can be made.

My personal achievement is having children when I was young, and now seeing them grow into intelligent, well-spoken, genuinely good people. Hearing my daughter tell me that she has secured a new job just reinforces that for me, I feel incredibly proud.

Away from work, do you have any notable hobbies?

I DJ most weekends, playing in bars, and I have done weddings as well. I am also doing a shop opening soon which is something new for me! I genuinely enjoy it because I love music and I love the fact that I am still connected to what is happening in the industry. I am playing tracks that I see 18-year-olds dancing to, and it makes me feel relevant, even to my 20-year-old daughter. I am constantly hunting for new music, whether it is for a weekend set, an event, or just for personal enjoyment.

Finally, if you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I think I’d say a Korma!

Connect with Gary on LinkedIn.