Key Account Manager

What makes my role so enjoyable is the sheer variety between my work in the office and my work out and about visiting customers and prospects. That variety suits me down to the ground. I also find it interesting to get a glimpse of different companies production, because it gives you some insight into how machinery and devices are actually produced.

The best thing about my work is building relationships with new customers and expanding relationships with existing customers. I’m the link between the customer and Prins. What that entails in the case of existing customers is relationship management, ensuring that we’re in a position to keep fulfilling their requirements and expanding our range wherever possible. And it’s extremely satisfying managing to persuade new customers that machine components could be better, cheaper and/or more robust and they give us the green light to develop an initial part.

Working as an account manager at Prins means being heavily involved in supervising current projects for your own customers, which makes the role diverse and fun. You’re constantly in touch with a variety of departments. I was recently made responsible for several German customers too. The international aspect and dealing with cultural differences are a great new challenge for me.

My colleague Mike and I have divided things up into segments. I’m responsible for the Agriculture and Pumps & Valves segments. The advantage of this segmentation is getting to specialise in a particular sector and our customers reap the benefits of that. You soon pick up the right terminology and figure out how to use it, and it makes you better able to see how to continue developing specific parts and the potential added value of casting and forging, and you’re building a valuable network encompassing relevant connections. It also ensures solid cooperation and harmonisation of work internally. 

We really do have a fun, close-knit team. There’s an informal atmosphere at Prins and everyone knows everyone in the organisation. What’s more, the office where we work is fantastic.

Outside of work, I like doing DIY at home. I’m a bit of a handyman and so I do a lot of odd jobs myself. We live near the sea, so when the weather is nice we’ll often be on the beach.