Written by Meet Herve, Regional Sales Director at IQPC. We sat down with Herve to discuss his journey with us, (which began over a decade ago), it was inspiring to learn about Herve’s journey from a Sales Rep to Sales Director and to hear about his passion for investing in his team and the business. Here’s what Herve had to say…
1. Please could you share some insights into your career journey at IQPC? Including details of where you started, the job roles that you have had and where you are now?
I joined IQPC in 2013, and I’ve been part of the PLS group for over 17 years since 2007. I began at IQPC as Divisional Sales Director, tasked with establishing the Defence division as a market leader in the defence event space. After three years of hard work, developing a strong value proposition, enhancing customer experience, and refining our sales approach, we achieved our goal. Since then, I’ve taken on various roles, focusing on improving divisions using the same methods. Currently, I am the Regional Sales Director overseeing several divisions, managing a large sales team in Europe and a growing a sponsorship team in the US office.
2. What do you enjoy most about working for IQPC and your job role?
My role offers a unique opportunity to develop sales talents and help them improve their performance. There’s nothing quite like transforming someone’s career and helping them achieve goals they thought were out of reach. Additionally, supporting our customers’ growth and making their business development easier fuels my passion for overall performance.
3. What are the challenges that you have faced throughout your career? How did you overcome them?
Becoming an effective Sales Manager was my biggest challenge. While I excelled as a sales rep, transitioning to management required a different skill set. Early in my management career, I was unstructured and inefficient. I turned to business books and various mentors who helped me recognise the work I needed to do to improve. I focused on mastering sales management techniques and identified Talent Management, Communication, and Training as essential skills I needed to improve to become a great Sales Director.
4. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career at IQPC so far?
There are several rewarding aspects. Positively impacting someone’s career and personal life is incredibly fulfilling. Additionally, achieving our customers’ objectives and receiving their appreciation is deeply rewarding. Finally, seeing how our sales performance boosts profits, which are reinvested across teams, creating more internal career opportunities, highlights the broader impact of my role.
5. What’s the best advice or key learnings you could share to someone to who has just started their career in your field and thinking of joining a business like ours?
Be patient and focus on personal development. We are on a continuous learning journey about ourselves and others. Embrace your vulnerabilities and strive to improve every day. Above all, show grit and perseverance. Doing the right thing can be challenging, but it’s crucial to persist.
6. Have you had a strong mentor at IQPC? What have you learned from them?
I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors. Steve Goldring, former CEO of WBR, helped me focus on fact-based decision-making and the benefits of reading business books. Doug Spence, a leadership consultant, taught me about communication and understanding different personality styles. Additionally, working with John, our current MD, and Ed, our Human Resources Director, has made me more effective in people and culture development.
7. What do you think sets IQPC apart from other companies in the industry?
Our people and company culture are our key differentiators. While competition is fierce and products can appear similar, our ability to understand our customers better than anyone else sets us apart. IQPC excels at attracting, retaining, and developing talent, fostering an ambitious business culture dedicated to supporting the communities we serve.