P&ON streamlines to push customer focus concept

P&O NEDLLOYD has streamlined its sales and trade departments in line with the company's strategy to tailor future product development to specific needs.
Sales and marketing director Richard Burmeister on Wednesday (July 1) assumed official reponsibility for the newly streamlined departments. He is now based in Cape Town.
Tony Stoner, current director of trades, retired at the end of last month although he will be retained in a consultancy capacity.
Bill Leader, national sales manager, is now the senior P&ON executive in the company's Johannesburg office.
Although the streamlining process is based in Cape Town it will be effective on a national basis, says Burmeister.
Market segment specialists are being appointed and they will travel nationally to assist the sales teams in providing specialist information on a particular industry or commodity.
In line with international trends there is an increasing need for companies to develop specialist skills and knowledge about their customers and their specific needs, says Burmeiseter.
If this knowledge is not then pooled and made accessible to those at the customer interface then it doesn't benefit the customer in the least. The key is to take this one step further and we are confident that we are setting up the right channels for this to occur.