Karl Smith
Engineering Director – Xelabus Ltd
Southampton
karlsmith40@hotmail.co.uk
02381 942775

An experienced Director with good commercial awareness, and a wealth of experience at active business management. This has given me excellent commercial awareness knowledge. I can perform well in any arena from making presentations to large numbers or dealing at director level on a one to one basis.

Work Experience

Engineering Director
Xelabus Ltd – Fleet
December 2016 to Present
Shared CPC Holder for a 40 Vehicle PCV Fleet, Responsible for Workshop and compliance around fleet admin. Member of the Board of Director (Non-Share Holder).
Key Contributions:
• Managing the day to day running of the whole business, this includes: All Matters of HR, from recruitment to disciplinary procedures.
• All purchases made by the company, including vehicles and associated funding. This includes and 3rd Party agreements with outside contractors.
• Compliance of the companies Operator Licence and procedures.
• Health & Safety and all building maintenance.
• Management of over 60 Staff and a 40 Vehicle bus & Coach operation.

Vehicle Movement – Managing Director
Total Vehicle Movement Ltd
July 2016 to January 2017
Due to high demand I opened this company and acquired some large car dealer clients, after a short time I was approached to sell to a larger Vehicle Movement company and sold up.
Key Contributions:
• Building, Growing and acquiring new business.

Vehicle Movement – Managing Director
REH Motor Company Ltd
November 2015 to July 2016
50% Share Holder in this company that specialised in Light Vehicle movement, started with my Son and employing 2 Drivers. Sold my share to my son.
Key Contributions:
• Building, Growing and acquiring new business.

Account Manager
City Link Ltd
March 2013 to November 2015
Looking after a portfolio of accounts numbering 75. This included insuring that all agreed levels of services are maintained at all time. Growing my portfolio of accounts for all aspects of our operation which includes: Express, International, Same day & Post. Meeting agreed company KPI’s and reporting process.
Key Contributions:
• Building, Growing and retaining business within my Portfolio. Visiting customers building relationships
and solving operational & Invoices queries.
• Managing existing accounts to assist in the customer service.

Account Manager
City Link Ltd
May 2012 to March 2013
My main responsibility was the day to day running of the account customer’s service levels. This included insuring that all agreed levels of services are maintained at all time. Acquiring new business for all aspects of our operation which includes Express, International & Same day.
Key Contributions:
• Finding a securing new business, adding revenue by cold calling telesales and my existing customer base.
• Managing existing accounts to assist in the customer service and invoice queries.

Group Business Development Manager
Sparks Commercial Services Ltd
May 2011 to March 2012
My main responsibility was the day to day running of the account customer’s service levels. This included insuring that all agreed levels of services are maintained at all time. Acquiring new business for all aspects of our operation which includes Service, parts, rental and new & used vehicle sales. In the role I am reporting directly to the Sales Director.
Key Contributions:
• Finding a securing new business, adding revenue by cold calling telesales and my existing customer base. New and Used Vehicle sales.
• Managing existing accounts to assist in the customer service and invoice queries.

General Manager
The HGV Centre Ltd
December 2009 to May 2011
Company went into Administration. My main responsibility was the day to day running of the account customer’s service levels. This included insuring that all agreed levels of services are maintained at all time.
Acquiring new business for all aspects of our operation which includes Service, parts, rental and Vehicle sales. In the role I am reporting directly to the Managing Director.
Key Contributions:
• Managing all aspects of the workshop operations, this includes staff recruitment and coaching.
• Dealing with suppliers and customer complaints.

General Manager
K&D Trailer Services Ltd
June 2009 to December 2009
This is a temporary role for both me and the owner of K&D Trailer Services Ltd; he needed a short-term person to look at the whole business, from gaining new business to updating his working practices.
Key Contributions:
• Finding a securing new business, adding revenue by general sales calls to new and existing customers.
• Running the day to day operation, this includes payroll, cash flow, purchase ledger and credit control.
• In my short time at K&D Trailer services I have completely updated the Health & Safety and all aspects of the IT policy including adding e-mail and building a website.

Area Sales Manager
Hill Hire Plc
2008 to May 2009
Depot Closed and made Redundant. Reporting to the Regional Sales Manager, a field-based role responsible for customer account management within a set post code area. Adding new customer by telesales and cold call techniques.
Key Contributions:
• Working closely with the Depot Manager to maximise the revenue and contributing to the company profits. Increasing depot turnover by over £750,000 in a 6-month period.
• Opening 49 new spending accounts, this is exceeding my current Key Performance Indicators for my job role, adding 150 signed vehicles onto my depot’s fleet.
• Exceeding on regular basis Key Performance Indicators and consistently being within the top within my region.
• Developing effective relationships with new and existing customers.

National Area Sales Manager
Hendy Group ltd
2006 to 2008
Responsible for a team of sales people and managing my own large corporate accounts. Performing staff appraisals on yearly basis. A key Field Based Role.
Key Contributions:
• Recruitment and training of 3 new sales people, effectively managing the productivity by setting
• Key Performance indicators that most of them achieved and coaching those who did not.
• Managing all major client accounts including large corporations, MOD Contracts and Universities.
• Preparation and collation of all information regarding tenders, this includes setting prices structures, understanding Health & Safety and agreeing service levels and terms and conditions.
• Acquisition of cars, vans, trucks and buses for contact hire. Understanding the customer needs and technical requirements allow effective purchase of fleet.

Hendy Group ltd
2003 to 2008
Area Operations Manager
Hendy Group ltd
2003 to 2006
Looking after 8 locations with the UK this includes staffing, fleet management and Sales for those locations.
• Achieved promotion from Branch Manager Salisbury to Area Operations Manager in 18 months.

Warehouse Team Manager
Tesco Distribution
2002 to 2003
Responsible for managing my own team of 50 warehouse operatives. This also included the day to day running of daily allocated areas within the warehouse environment.
Key Contributions:
• Understanding and working within a unionised environment and achieving Usdaw recognised Disciplinary & Coaching skills.
• Adapting too many different roles within the warehouse and changing my skills to effectively manage these areas to reach set hourly targets.
• Organising and implementing effective deployment of up to 50 staff within my working area and using them to action work load in set time scales.

Goods Handling Department Manager
John Lewis Plc
2000 to 2002
Head of Department with a team of 4 Section Managers and upwards of 35 staff with the department.
Our key role was effective stock management and movement within our set budgets.
Key Contributions:
• With the help of my team we reduced the stock holding between the warehouse and main store form 26 million to 13 million. This was achieved by effective stock management and reduced movement of items. Also looking at the physical size of items and understanding what could be collected.
• By reducing stock levels this allowed us to redeploy a number of staff to other roles within the business and reduce the head count in my department. In doing this we saved an equivalent to 10 FTE.
• Coordinating and implementing the key move of fast-moving stock lines to the main branch stock rooms. Managing stock and staff to allow a smooth and fast transition from the one to new to another.
• Coaching and appraising all staff including my section Managers. Identifying their skills by guiding and training to further their progression with the Partnership

Skills

MICROSOFT OFFICE (Less than 1 year), MS OFFICE (Less than 1 year)

Certifications/Licences

CPC Passenger Transport
November 2017 to Present
This qualification is offered on behalf of the Department for Transport and in relation to the current EU Directive. It is suitable for those wishing to enter the profession of Passenger Transport Management or demonstrate professional competence to meet the Operator Licensing requirements. The qualification will be assessed through a combination of multiple choice and case study examinations and is awarded when you have passed the appropriate combination of units.

Additional Information

Key Skills
• Commercial: Strong negotiation and questioning skills allowing a good understanding of a customer’s business and building a good client/customer relationship.
• Communication: Able to gain multi-level commitment to business through strong presentation and interpersonal skills.
• IT: Thorough understanding and use of Microsoft Office suite. Excellent basic Computer skills.
• Customers: Using all of my key skills and a good understanding of my customer’s business allows me to better fulfill the customer’s requirements and build on a good relationship.