Five minutes with Andy Roser

Five minutes with Andy Roser

Q1. Tell us a bit about your role and what services you offer to customers.

The SDM role is in place to develop relationships with specifiers across the UK. A SDM should provide unrivalled market knowledge, whilst growing relationships with our specifier customers, so as to be recognised as a coatings industry expert. It is all about helping my customers get exactly what they need. I want to ensure that every project in my area is completed right first time, which will save both time and money for the specifier, contractor and anyone else involved in paints and coatings in the built environment.

Q2. What is your vision on Contract Direct?

Contract Direct is a structure to provide a closer level of customer support. It's our way of doing business with contractors from pricing to support on site. Being a member of Contract Direct gives a contractor a higher level of access to all of our services and assets.

Q3. What makes a good Contract Direct customer?

I think it is more about what makes a good working relationship on a project or programme. Any contractor that listens to a specifier's requirements and can work with them to improve the specification to select the right product for the area in question, in my eyes, is a good contractor. Contractors and specifiers should also use the industry leading support from AkzoNobel to make sure they have all the tools and information required on our brands, whether that be colour tools and services, product information or support in the writing of specifications.

Q4. How long have you been in this role, what is your background and how did you become involved with AkzoNobel?

I'm considered the newbie of the team as I've been in the role since January, however I am in my fourth year with AkzoNobel. Previous to this role I worked in various marketing positions looking after our product portfolio, Dulux Trade marketing campaigns and any marketing communications that went out to our contractor audience. The SDM role is very different to what I've done before, but the interaction you get with customers on a daily basis gives a real insight into the projects being worked on in each area. I became involved with AkzoNobel after wanting to join a company where I would be encouraged to grow and develop across multiple roles in the sales and marketing arena.

Q5. Do you have any industry news to share?

As part of our 2020 strategy we aim to be a More Connected, More Trade and More Direct business. This is great news for our Contractor and Specifier customers who will see first-hand the benefits of working with AkzoNobel as a business.