Ashley Charles Poole
Broker Consultant
Somerset West
Summary
I pride myself on having excellent verbal and literary skills. I have the ability to forge good work relations with customers as well as colleagues. Flexibility and adaptability to change are natural talents enhanced by superb leadership skills. I enjoy new challenges and endeavor at all times to attain a higher level of product and service knowledge. I am seeking a position that will be both challenging and rewarding, where I can add value with my past experience and skills.
Experienced with business partner relationship management, financial advising, and market analysis. Utilizes strategic planning and negotiation to optimize client portfolios. Track record of adapting to market changes and achieving significant client satisfaction.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
2
2
Language
Work History
Broker Consultant
Avbob
01.2018 - Current
- Broker sales support & development Recruit and onboard new brokers to sell your funeral plans
- Train brokers on your funeral products, underwriting rules, and claims process
- Help brokers grow their business across different client segments - e.g. mass market, emerging market, employer groups
- Provide sales tools & marketing material like brochures, rate cards, and pitch decks for employer groups
- Achieve sales targets by getting brokers to bring in new clients and retain existing ones
- Product & technical expertise
- Explain funeral policy details to brokers - waiting periods, cover amounts, extended family cover, premiums, SASSA-compliant policies
- Advise on suitable products for different markets
- Keep brokers updated on product changes, regulatory changes, and competitor trends
- Advise on risk management - e.g. using stop orders vs debit orders to improve collections to 97%
- . Client & broker relationship management
- Act as liaison between brokers and the insurer for quotes, underwriting, and claims
- Assist with claims to ensure fair dealing and satisfaction - funeral claims are emotional and urgent.
- Handle escalations so brokers don’t need to call a call centre
- Build and maintain long-term relationships with brokers to secure revenue and growth
- Compliance & admin
- Ensure brokers understand the terms and extent of cover in line with industry regulations.
- Keep records and submit reports on broker performance/. Market insights & strategy.
- Share market insights with brokers - e.g. data on government employees as a steady-income mass market
- Help brokers pitch to employers/unions for group funeral schemes
- Advise on financial literacy tools for brokers to use with clients - debt, budgeting, risk management.
District Manager
Avbob
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Managing representatives and office activities thus insuring that targets are met and planned activities are executed timeously.
- Identifying, recruiting of new representatives & staff
- Negotiating with prospective and existing clients and groups
- Liaising with peers, seniors and policy holders
- Sourcing of new business
- Manage and control performance areas of Representatives
- Train subordinates & representatives (CPD)
- Give feedback of all production activities
- Achieving Targets
Representative
Avbob life office
01.2013 - 01.2015
- I establish, develop and maintain business relationships with current and prospective customers.
- I prospect for customers in the assigned territory/market segment to generate new business for the organization
- I contact clients telephonically and in-person visit and do presentations to existing and prospective customers.
- Research for developing prospective customers and for information to determine their potential.
- Develop clear and effective written proposals/quotations for current and prospective customers.
- Expedite the resolution of customer problems and complaints.
Sales Manager
Avbob Eerste Rivier Funeral Parlour
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Marketing
- Market research
- General Office Administration
- Public Relations
- Extensive client liaising including funeral arrangements
- Recruiting, Training & monitoring of sales staff
Self-employed - Import and Export business
Self
01.2005 - 01.2010
- I was responsible for sourcing, importing, purchasing, reselling and distributing.
- My role required marketing, market research, general office administration and public relations.
- I handled extensive client liaising, and the daily running of a small business.
Business Development Executive
The Listening Company (TLC), Richmond, Surrey U.K.
01.2002 - 01.2005
- I was employed to conduct business development and marketing awareness on behalf of various blue chip clients.
- Campaigns worked on included BT Broad band, O2 Black Berry (appointment setting), Sainsbury's, Cahoot, O2 Business zones, BUPA, TELE 2, and American Express.
- I worked on a high profile campaign for American Express. The objective was to increase their merchant count in the UK. This was successfully achieved and the client exceeded their conversion record for Europe.
- I was responsible for client reporting and team management, whilst handling extensive client liaison on all client campaigns.
- I was accountable for ad hoc training of new team members, and various product and sales training courses.
- I trained on DMA (Direct Marketing Association) guidelines, and was accountable for consistent target achievement.
- The fastest growing outsource customer contact centre in the UK.
Field Sales Advisor
Southern Electric and Virgin Energy
01.2001 - 01.2002
- I was responsible for face to face consumer sales, whilst advising customers as to the most appropriate product for them.
Business Development Manager
Roter Data, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1999 - 01.2001
- My duties included investigating the economic conditions surrounding the business activity such as industry trends and competition.
- I conducted extensive market research prior to starting business and continued gathering information throughout the life of the business.
- I was responsible for preparing detailed business plans, securing sufficient financial resources for future development or expansion, and contacting professional advisors such as accountants, bankers and/or lawyers to provide expert information about the business.
- I was required to network with other small business people thus establishing a support group.
- I attended workshops, trade shows, and seminars to keep up-to-date on changes in the industry.
- I was responsible for developing a situation analysis of the company including its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to assist in the development of a strategic plan for the future of the business.
- In general, as business development manager I was responsible for running the business on a daily basis.
Accounts Executive
Audio Lens, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1998 - 01.1999
- I implemented training courses for new recruits, thus speeding profitability.
- I increased sales by 40% and was responsible for the coordination of product launches.
- Import audiovisual an electronic company
Accounts Executive
Foto Sta, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1996 - 01.1998
- During my employment I increased overall sales
- I assisted with staff development, general office administration, and the public relations of new product launches.
- General Office Administration i.e. cash handling
- Public relations of new product launch.
- Photography and the import and sales of photographic goods.
Education
Diploma - Business Management
Regenesys
04-2026
NQF level 5 - Wealth Management
Inseta
01-2025
Full Qualification - Long-term insurance
Inseta
01-2016
RE05 Representative - RE01 KI Level 1 Cat I, II, IIA, III and IV
FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
01-2015
Diploma - Project Management
London College
01-2005
A Levels - undefined
Parel Valley High School
Cape Town01-1996
Skills
Business partner relationship management
Negotiation expertise
Portfolio management
Industry awareness
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of 350 agents and 12 business owners an external QA call centre in the development of the most successful business partner within the AVBOB alternative distribution space
- Achieved record production and revenue and by introducing new sales / training and QA strategies.
Interests
Cycling, Rugby, Photography, Health & fitness, Choir conductor at church, Attending Business seminars
Timeline
Broker Consultant
Avbob
01.2018 - Current
District Manager
Avbob
01.2015 - 01.2018
Representative
Avbob life office
01.2013 - 01.2015
Sales Manager
Avbob Eerste Rivier Funeral Parlour
01.2011 - 01.2013
Self-employed - Import and Export business
Self
01.2005 - 01.2010
Business Development Executive
The Listening Company (TLC), Richmond, Surrey U.K.
01.2002 - 01.2005
Field Sales Advisor
Southern Electric and Virgin Energy
01.2001 - 01.2002
Business Development Manager
Roter Data, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1999 - 01.2001
Accounts Executive
Audio Lens, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1998 - 01.1999
Accounts Executive
Foto Sta, Cape Town, South Africa
01.1996 - 01.1998
NQF level 5 - Wealth Management
Inseta
Full Qualification - Long-term insurance
Inseta
RE05 Representative - RE01 KI Level 1 Cat I, II, IIA, III and IV
FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Diploma - Project Management
London College
A Levels - undefined
Parel Valley High School
Diploma - Business Management
Regenesys