About Leslie Smith
Leslie Smith - Professional Summary: [ Not Updated Yet ]
Leslie Smith - Professional Experience:
CAREER HISTORY
February 2008 to present: Bizzxsell Limited
MANAGING DIRECTOR
After a career in the commercial world, spanning some 28 years, I decided to start a small business consultancy, specialising in helping Small to Medium Enterprises with business planning and strategic direction.
This new venture also specialises in assisting client companies to compete for Government Tenders, with services ranging from simple search and selection of suitable opportunities to a fully outsourced tender operation, completing all relevant tender documentation and submitting same on behalf of the client company.
In the few months this company has been operating we have been successful in gaining a number of clients, from a variety of business sectors, for whom we are actively working on a number of tender opportunities.
June 2000 to January 2008: Hayman Limited.
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL SALES / SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
Responsible for: -
• Global sales and marketing of Hayman Speciality Products (International), which forms part of the largest of the companies 3 divisions. Primary products made up of speciality chemicals, sold mainly into the Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic markets.
• In June of 2006 the company acquired an international trading company specialising in Pharmaceutical raw materials, which was integrated into the HSPI business unit.
• Direct management of a team of 2 Sales Managers & indirect management of 2 customer service team members.
• Formulating and Implementing Sales & Marketing Strategies to include Annual Financial Budgets and five year plan.
• Member of the company “Executive” which has responsibility for development of corporate strategy and the day to day management of the whole company.
• Negotiation of supply & pricing with the companies major principals, Ineos Enterprises (formerly BP Chemicals), BASF, Methanex, Exxon Mobil and Sasol
• Annual Sales Turnover in excess of £5 Million
Key Achievements: -
• Re-structured the sales team to gain more effective operation, turning a vertical structure to a more horizontal structure with each team member taking greater responsibility for results and management of specific business areas.
• Played a leading role in the acquisition of Kimia International, a company specialising in trading pharmaceutical raw materials, and managed the integration of this into Hayman business. This included negotiating the redundancy of 1 member of staff and the relocation of another.
• Took the leading role in managing a project to upgrade the total corporate IT system, delivering significant improvements in the effectiveness of the company operations and management information tools.
Jan. 1991 to June 2000: Carless Refining & Marketing Ltd.
June 1994 to June 1999 EXPORT SALES MANAGER
Responsible for: -
• All International Business development, with specific emphasis on the European Union, the Asia Pacific Rim and the Middle East. Also direct sales to West and North Africa.
• Direct management of a team of 5 export sales staff, four of whom were based in the companies European offices.
• Formulating and agreeing, with the Board of Director’s, Company Export Sales Strategies to include Annual Financial Budgets and implementation thereof.
• Ensuring that effective Account Business Strategies were developed and implemented, including the negotiation of yearly and longer trading agreements.
• Recruiting, Directing, and managing a network of International Agents.
• Assisting with the setting up and development of a full administrative support system for all business in the Export Arena.
• Formulation of new Company product initiatives and their execution.
• Annual Sales Turnover in excess of £20 Million
Key Achievements: -
• Identified the opportunity to establish a centralised Company Export Department, devised the strategy and gained Board approval to implement.
• 1997 and 1998 Profit Contribution Budgets were exceeded by 18% and 7% respectively.
• Set up, and implemented, a programme to effect a reduction in the cost of freight services. In 1999 overall costs were reduced by 10% resulting in an improvement in net profitability of 6.8%.
• Implemented a strategy to centralise all Export activities to create a “team” approach to the growth of the business. This included establishing regular International Sales meetings to bring all Export Staff and Key Product / Technical personnel together to facilitate development of the business in all areas.
• Increased the number of markets supplied by 25%.
Jan. 1991 to June 1994 PRODUCT MANAGER - Printing Ink Distillates.
Responsible for: -
• World-wide Marketing and Sales of all Printing Ink Distillates :- Building to a turnover of £3.8 million in 1994
• New product development in liaison with the technical department.
• Management of major accounts, with emphasis on Multi-National’s
• Development and implementation of Five year, and Annual, Marketing and Sales plans, to include volume and product cost projections and sector profitability.
Key Achievements: -
• Grew companies Export volume five fold in 3.5 years.
• Increased the companies U.K. market share by 13% to 51%, and Continental European share to 7.6% from 1.2%.
• Negotiated the companies first ever, five year sole supply agreement, with a major new European Ink plant.
• Major Pan European contracts were successfully negotiated with two of the three largest Ink producers in Europe.
Apr. 1986 to Jan. 1991 : Thor Chemical International Ltd.
REGIONAL EXPORT MANAGER
Responsible for: -
• Overseas Sales of Industrial Biocides to Surface Coating producers in 15 international markets.
• Agree and Achieve pre-set sales budgets, to include product mix and margin.
• Recruitment, Development and Direction of a team of International Agents and Distributors, to maximise company business through pre-agreed trading strategies.
Key Achievements: -
• Exceeded volume and contribution budgets in each year of service.
• Grew market share in four of the company’s five major international trading regions.
• Pioneered new markets in the Middle East and Asia, achieving incremental volume, building to 15% of total company volume. Increased market Share in every market for which responsibility held.
Jan. 1983 to Mar. 1986: D. F. Anstead Ltd.
June 1984 to Mar. 1986 EXPORT SALES EXECUTIVE
Export sales role, with responsibility for overseas agents and distributors, predominantly in Western Europe and the Middle East.
Jan. 1983 to June 1984 EXPORT SALES CO-ORDINATOR
Support function for Export Field staff, with direct day to day handling of customer orders, enquiries and problems.
Leslie Smith - Education:
Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma (postgraduate qualification)
Chartered Institute of Marketing Certificate
Ordinary National Diploma, Business Studies
GCE ‘A’ Levels x 2
GCE ‘O’ Levels x 7
Leslie Smith - Interests:
Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) - DipM. MCIM, Chartered Marketer
Serve on CIM Regional Board for the East of England and Essex Branch Committee
Active member of Diss & District Rotary Club, serving on the Club Service CommitteeEnjoy Cycling, DIY, Reading, Gym, Travel
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