Ashleigh Murray - Bates

As a Regional Account Manager at Veolia UK, I leverage my 20+ years of diverse experience in various industries to help businesses achieve their sustainability goals and objectives. I take ownership of the customer relationship, build rapport with senior stakeholders, and generate and grow revenue across strategic accounts.

I have a proven track record of delivering high-quality products and services, managing complex projects, and implementing new processes and innovations. I excel at motivating and leading multi-disciplinary teams, developing commercial strategies and plans, and ensuring operational excellence and financial oversight. I am passionate about making a positive impact in the organization and the environment, and I am always ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.

Regional Account Manager – Veolia UK                                                                      Sept 2022 - Present

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS 

• Take ownership of the business relationship with the customer, building relationships with senior level customers & Veolia stakeholders.
• Complete internal contract review meetings and ensure all elements of the contract are delivered in line with client expectations.
• Interaction with key stakeholders to manage and deliver business innovation, best practice and strategic value projects across all relevant customer accounts and portfolios.
• Take overall responsibility for the generation and growth of Revenue and Net Revenue across defined Strategic Accounts. Manage a revenue portfolio of approx £5 Mil  per annum.
• Produce individual Account Management Plans for each aspect of the client giving full visibility of all account details to relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain customer touch plans that facilitate the strategic alignment of all service delivery and management functions, including "top-to-top" senior management / sector leadership teams.
• Ensure debt levels are managed within each account's commercial terms and support with any invoice dispute.
• Develop sector specific knowledge and become the sector expert in terms of industry trends, commercial outlook, future market trends and customer business objectives.
• Own the renewal process of accounts, delivering a value proposition to customers covering financial, operations and CSR improvement, whilst also maintaining and improving the net revenue of services to Veolia.
  • Manage the Business Relationship for a portfolio of Key Customers with a clear focus on increasing volume and revenue of sales within the Paper and Tissue Industry 

Business Development Manager  –  Sofidel  (U.K.)                                                     Apr 2022 – Sept 2022

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Identify growth opportunities from within the portfolio 
• Develop new opportunities, Attract New Distributors and negotiate terms and conditions for account 
• Deliver exceptional Account Management Experience 
• Ensure all Disputes and queries are resolved promptly to ensure payment is made with agreed terms 
• Managing leads and following up new business opportunities to close deals with prospects to meet all revenue targets
• Delivering presentations to customers and articulating the benefits of products / services for commercial growth
• Forging excellent relationships with new / existing customers to promote long-term loyalty
• Working alongside the management team to support the development and implementation of sales and marketing strategies, in line with core objectives to drive business growth

Area Account Executive  –  Veolia  UK                                                                                   Nov 2021 – Mar 2022
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Manage the Business Relationship for a portfolio of Key Customers with a clear focus on contract retention and developing revenue across Veolia’s services
• Identify growth opportunities from within the portfolio with up-selling and cross selling 
• Update and Maintain CRM System (Salesforce) 
• Deliver exceptional Customer Experience in line with Veolia’s values
• To proactively focus on contract development and improvement projects 
• Ensure all disputes and queries are resolved promptly to ensure payment is made within agreed terms
• Developing opportunities with B2B customers in Greater London, by adopting a consultative approach and successfully providing detailed information on solutions
• Managing leads and following up new business opportunities to close deals with prospects to meet all revenue targets
• Delivering presentations to customers and articulating the benefits of products / services for commercial growth
• Forging excellent relationships with new / existing customers to promote long-term loyalty
• Working alongside the management team to support the development and implementation of sales and marketing strategies, in line with core objectives to drive business growth

Sales Executive  –  Veolia  (U.K.)                                                                                Feb 2020 – Oct 2021
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Developing opportunities with B2B customers in Greater London, by adopting a consultative approach and successfully providing detailed information on solutions.
• Managing leads and following up new business opportunities to close deals with prospects to meet all revenue targets.
• Delivering presentations to customers and articulating the benefits of products / services for commercial growth.
• Forging excellent relationships with new / existing customers to promote long-term loyalty and cross / up-selling.
• Working alongside the management team to support the development and implementation of sales and marketing strategies, in line with core objectives to drive business growth.
  Business Development Manager  –  Churchill Tax Advisers  (U.K.)                            Nov 2019 – Feb 2020
  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS
• Led on new business development across the North London region through cold calling, lead generation, referrals and networking to meet all revenue targets / KPIs.

National Account Manager  –  Cell C  (South Africa)                                                   Sep 2017 – Oct 2019
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Drove new business development across a large geographical region, including with corporate, SME and public sector customers (B2B) to meet all targets / KPIs for broadband, fibre, voice and data contracts.
• Managed a portfolio of existing key customer accounts and delivered an exceptional level of service at all times.
• Nurtured relationships and worked with key account stakeholders to achieve all sales targets.
• Identified opportunities within accounts and promoted the sales of telecommunications solutions in a diligent manner.
• Worked with multiple stakeholders / internal departments to deliver the best proposition and service levels to customers.
• Acted as a primary point of contact for accounts, and resolved any issues in a swift manner to deliver a first-rate level of service to retain and develop business.
  Business Owner  –  ACMB Real Estate CC  (South Africa)                                          Jul 2014 – Dec 2018
  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS
• Established and operated a business focused on lease administration and property management.
• Spearheaded innovative marketing activities to increase market share levels in line with expectations.
• Analysed the business with respect to margins, costings and expenditure with full P&L and budgetary accountability.
• Undertook assessment of business processes to reduce costs / overheads and drive improvements in productivity.
• Dealt with all aspects of property administration and supplier management.

Business Owner  –  Omni Estates & Jager Property  (South Africa)                           Jan 2002 – Jun 2014
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Set up a new property management business and led a team of 40+ staff to provide property management services for investors / landlords for a period of 12 years. 
• Developed comprehensive sales / marketing / go-to-market strategies to ensure the achievement of commercial aims.
• Directed high-performing teams and implemented a culture strong on teamwork, collective goals and results.
• Managed the business to increase customer satisfaction, revenue and profit contributions with P&L responsibility.
• Chaired regular meetings with Senior Managers across the business to review progress on sales and operations.
• Served on various Boards and Committees, including NAMA and Services Seta, which impacted the property industry both locally and nationally.
• Enforced fraud prevention, detection and investigative measures relating to all aspects of the business as well as the properties managed, including drafting fraud risk reports and assisting in investigations conducted by police authorities.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS OWNER:

Business Strategy and Planning            /           Financial Management /           Legal & Regulatory Compliance 

Property Acquisition & Disposition         /           Property Management /           Facilities Management 

Marketing & Advertising                         /           Client Relations                         /           Financial Reporting 

Team Management                   /           Risk Management         /           Networking & Business Development 

Market Research & Analysis      /           Technology & Systems /           Community Engagement 

Ethical Conduct                                    /           Continual Learning       /           Business Growth & Expansion

EARLIER CAREER SUMMARY

Assistant Manager                                             Berea Placements  (South Africa)              Feb 2017 – June 2017

-           Recruitment Agency  

Account Manager                                              Media 24 / Die Volksblad  (South Africa)      Feb 2016 – Feb 2017 

            -           Newspaper Agency 

Property Manager / Shopping Centre Manager      MRR Properties  (South Africa)                  Apr 2015 – Jun 2015

            -           Shopping Centre Management

Various Administrative Roles                              (South Africa)                                         1998  –  2006

EDUCATION
University of Wolverhampton

• Masters of Business Administration (MBA)                                                              Commenced Nov 2021

Outsourced Learner Management (Pty) Ltd

• NQF Level 8 / Occupational Certificate for Fraud Examiners                                    2022 
  ACFE (USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia)                                                                         
• NQF Level 7 / International Certified Fraud Examiner                                                          2017
• Ex Officio Commissioner of Oaths (RSA)                                                                 Ongoing

University of the Free State (South Africa)                                                                        

• NQF Level 5 / Financial Management For Non-Financial Managers                                      2011

University of South Africa                                                                                  

• LLB Third Year Candidate                                                                                      DNC

University of Cape Town (South Africa)                                                                           

• Advanced Certificate in Section Title (Block) Management                                       2008

University of Cape Town (South Africa)                                                                            

• Certificate in Sectional Title (Block) Management                                                    2007

University of Pretoria (South Africa)                                                                                

• Certificate in Shopping Centre Management                                                                        2004
  FRAUD RELATED COURSES
   
• Fighting Fraud in the Government                                                                            2021
• Pandemic-Related Fraud in Government Agencies                                                     2021
• Professional Interviewing Skills                                                                                2018
• Fraud Opportunities in Cryptocurrencies                                                                   2018
• Fraud Awareness (Public and Private Sector)                                                            2017