Sachuthanundan Reddy
Automotive Manager
Durban
Summary
Senior Manager with over 20 years of progressive experience improving business processes, increasing revenue and retaining loyal customers in multiple locations. Strengths include financial administration, team leadership and automotive operations management.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Regional Business Head /Dealer Principal
Tata International
Durban
07.2022 - Current
- Create regional sales plans and quotas in alignment to business objectives.
- Analyze regional market trends and discover new opportunities for growth.
- Address potential problems and suggest prompt solutions.
- Responsible for dealership operations management.
- Monitored company inventory to keep stock levels and databases updated.
- Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Determined monthly and yearly forecasts in terms of unit sales, gross profit objectives and departmental profits.
Branch Manager
Bridgestone Commercial South Africa
Durban
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Lead a staff compliment of 27 (Trainee Branch Manager, , Sales Executives, Tyre bay fitters, Drivers, Breakdown and Wheel Alignment Technicians and Onsite Fitters and Supervisors)
- Responsibilities as the branch manager included Branch operations management
- Developing and attaining sales goals
- Managing resources and staff
- Delivering customer service
- Financial reporting and plan and follow budgets
- Hire and train staff
- Implement and ensure HSE standards are followed
Dealer Principal
Halfway Hino Honeydew
06.2018 - 01.2020
- Lead and mentored a team of 34 staff including departmental managers, sales executives, workshop technicians, parts sales executive and admin department staff
- As the senior manager my major responsibilities included sales planning, product strategy, marketing, customer retention and profitability in setting up the business model to ensure sustainable and profitable business growth
- Area of responsibility for all sales and service functions included Gauteng, Limpopo, North West Province and Mpumalanga province
- Cross border functions were limited to sales only to Botswana, Swaziland, and Mozambique
- Key focus area was CSI (and exceeded customer satisfaction benchmark and achieved 98.6% in 2019 ( New sales, service, parts and administration )
- Responsible for a 20 million rand rotating vehicle stock floor plan and 2.5 million-rand parts stores inventory
- Implemented and developed lean processes that resulted in increased sales and service labour hours
- Controlled dealership HR and policy regulations, staff training allocations and HSE duties
- Set sales and service KPI’s and KPA’s and performance standards to include targets, product mix and CSI
- Liaised with body/trailer builders and aftermarket equipment suppliers to deliver optimal transport solutions to customers
- (TFM Industries, SERCO Industries, Motor Body Constructions, Transfrig, 600 SA, Bowman Africa, GEA Africa, Tail Lift SA, Pal finger Cranes, Ice Cold Bodies)
- Fleet accounts managed (ABI, Famous Brands, Motor Via, Shoprite, Country Meat, Fisherman’s Deli, Iron Mountain)
Regional Sales Manager
Continental Tyre SA, KwaZulu Natal & Swaziland
12.2017 - 05.2018
- My area of responsibility was Kwa Zulu Natal and Swaziland (43 branches and key account customers)
- My focus areas were in business development through leadership, training, and revenue growth
- I reported on sales strategies, marketing activities and lost sales to competitors
- I handled customer technical queries and key account support and was the liaison between own branches, individual key account customers and internal manufacturing and distribution departments
- Implementing franchise standards at branches and managed marketing and sales strategies and promotions
- Frequent customer and branch visits to maintain customers with individual support to address complaints and queries and drive sales
- Key accounts managed (Best drive branches, Tyre Mart branches, Nida Transport, Orange Grove Dairy, Texas Trucking, Westmead Logistics, Spar Group, Shoprite Group, Unitrans Logistics, Imperial Logistics Divisions)
Business Manager
Trentyre
06.2016 - 11.2017
- I was responsible for the daily branch operations (Sales, service, and administration) of 22 staff
- My area of responsibility was Kwa Zulu Natal North Coast region (Stanger, Empangeni, Richards Bay, Melmoth, Ulundi, Matubatuba, Pongola)
- Monthly reporting of sales and lost sales to OEM
- Ordering of stock and stock control
- Implementing targets and sales structures for sales and service staff and controlling costs
- Implementing and monitoring safety standards
- Key accounts managed (Aquella Water, Cosmopolitan Transport, Ilembe Municipality, uMhlatuze Municipality, M3 Carriers, RBM, Sasko Bakeries)
Commercial Sales Manager
UD Trucks North Coast
09.2013 - 05.2016
- Responsible for new and used truck sales department (5 sales executives, 1 sales administrator, 1 driver trainer )
- Managed the monthly forecasts, department budgets and sales and lost sales reports to OEM
- I managed the inventory and maximised profits by ensuring stock ageing was kept to a minimum
- I implemented departmental targets and individual KPI’s and mentored sales staff on sales process and quoting
- Addressing customer queries and complaints was key to ensuring customer satisfaction and retention for repeat business
- I handled individual key accounts that needed accurate quoting and delivery standards whilst mentoring sales staff to take over key account customers
- I had regular interactions with body builders and equipment suppliers as I personally compiled and submitted government tenders and RFQ from major fleet customers
- (L&S Body Manufacturers, Smarty Bodies, SERCO Industries, Rapid Bodies, GEA, Transfrig, Pal Finger cranesTFM Industries,
- Key accounts managed (ABI, Hendok Steel, Sasko Bakery, Shoprite, United National Breweries, eThekwini Municipality, iLembe Municipality, uMhlatuze Municipality, Uni Trans)
Commercial Sales Manager
UD Trucks Magnis Zululand
09.2012 - 08.2013
- New and used truck sales management
- Monthly forecasts and budgets
- Sales and lost sales reporting to OEM
- Ordering of stock and stock control
- Implementing targets and commission structures
- Addressing customer queries and complaints
- Acquiring new business
New Truck Salesman
CMH Commercial UD Trucks
09.2011 - 08.2012
- New Truck sales of UD Trucks brand from data base
- Finance applications
- Liaising with various suppliers, trailer, and body manufacturers
- Attending to customer requests and complaints
- Compiling and submitting government tenders
- Acquiring new business (cold calling)
- Reason for Leaving: Promoted to Sales Manager at Richards Bay branch within UD Trucks.
Trailer & Body manufacturers, Period Employed
L&S
07.2009 - 08.2011
New Truck Salesman
Leyland Truck & Bus Kzn
02.2008 - 06.2009
- New Truck sales limited to (4 ton to 8 ton) segment due to brand being new in the country
- Finance applications
- Consulting with various trailer and body manufacturers
- Liaising and planning with various media agencies for advertisement layouts
- Attending to customers servicing and spares requirements
- Reason for Leaving: Dealership closed due to recession
New Truck Salesman
Tata Truck & Bus
04.2006 - 01.2008
- New Truck sales (2Ton segment up to 36ton truck tractors and buses)
- Finance applications to various banks on customer’s behalf
- Consulting with various trailer and body manufacturers
- Reason for Leaving: Offered a better position
Truck and Parts Salesman
Tommy’s Auto Parts
01.2005 - 03.2006
- Counter and telephonic truck parts sales
- Ordering of new stock
- Truck sales,2nd hand and rebuilds
- Stock and inventory control
- Consulting with customers and suppliers
- Reason for Leaving: Offered a new truck sales position
Warehouse Supervisor/Truck Spares Salesman
Red’s Truck Spares
01.1998 - 11.2004
- Ordering and planning of stock acquisition on expected sales forecast
- Stock control and co-ordinating range variations
- Display’s planned and laid out according to promotional concept/sales date/month end specials etc
- Customer service relating to complaints, special requests
- Dealing with representatives and sales managers for stock items as well as physical buying from low cost suppliers
- Budget preparations of monthly sales and stock budgets
- Safety, health, and environmental and industrial relations requirements were applied
- Reason for Leaving: Company closed due to owner’s health
Education
Leadership Development Leading Others - Managers Leading Others
Gibs Business School
Johannesburg 09.2021 - 06.2022
Leadership Development Programme Business Management -
University of Pretoria
Pretoria 08.2014 - 11.2014
National Diploma - Industrial Engineering ( Incomplete )
Sultan Technicon
Durban 01.1996 - 12.1997
Matriculated with Exemption - High School
Wingen Heights Secondary School
Durban 01.1991 - 12.1995
Skills
Sales professional
Timeline
Regional Business Head /Dealer Principal
Tata International
07.2022 - Current
Leadership Development Leading Others - Managers Leading Others
Gibs Business School
09.2021 - 06.2022
Branch Manager
Bridgestone Commercial South Africa
07.2021 - 07.2022
Dealer Principal
Halfway Hino Honeydew
06.2018 - 01.2020
Regional Sales Manager
Continental Tyre SA, KwaZulu Natal & Swaziland
12.2017 - 05.2018
Business Manager
Trentyre
06.2016 - 11.2017
Leadership Development Programme Business Management -
University of Pretoria
08.2014 - 11.2014
Commercial Sales Manager
UD Trucks North Coast
09.2013 - 05.2016
Commercial Sales Manager
UD Trucks Magnis Zululand
09.2012 - 08.2013
New Truck Salesman
CMH Commercial UD Trucks
09.2011 - 08.2012
Trailer & Body manufacturers, Period Employed
L&S
07.2009 - 08.2011
New Truck Salesman
Leyland Truck & Bus Kzn
02.2008 - 06.2009
New Truck Salesman
Tata Truck & Bus
04.2006 - 01.2008
Truck and Parts Salesman
Tommy’s Auto Parts
01.2005 - 03.2006
Warehouse Supervisor/Truck Spares Salesman
Red’s Truck Spares
01.1998 - 11.2004
National Diploma - Industrial Engineering ( Incomplete )
Sultan Technicon
01.1996 - 12.1997
Matriculated with Exemption - High School
Wingen Heights Secondary School
01.1991 - 12.1995
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