Meet Chris Jones - UK Sales Director

1. How long have you worked for FläktGroup?

I have been with the company for 12 years, and I have spent the last six months in my current role as UK Sales Director.

My career path wasn't quite what I originally expected. I started a civil engineering degree at university but was offered a job with a local ventilation company and decided to take that opportunity instead. I left university and never looked back.

I joined FläktWoods as a Consultant Sales Engineer and have progressed through several roles to where I am today. My current role is focused on ensuring that FläktGroup is part of the route to market by getting our name onto project specifications as early as possible, giving us a head start in the race. I manage both the ICS and Service sakes teams nationally and we spend a lot of time working with consultants and contractors, building relationships, understanding project requirements, and helping to develop practical solutions.

2. Why did you choose FläktGroup and why do you enjoy working here?

I had always been aware of the FläktGroup brand because it has such a strong reputation in the industry. It has always been regarded as one of the leading names in ventilation, with an impressive history and heritage that customers still value today.

In fact, I still have a second edition of Woods Practical Guide to Fan Engineering that must be around 70 years old. The engineering principles it covers are still relevant today, which says a lot about the company's expertise and longevity.

Before joining FläktGroup, I was working for Swegon. When the opportunity came up, it felt like the natural next step in my career. FläktGroup and Woods both have excellent products and are recognised as strong brands across the industry.

I've also been fortunate to have some excellent mentors throughout my career. My first role was with a family-run business where I started in sales at the age of 21. They put a lot of trust in me, and I learned a huge amount from the more experienced people around me.

3. What is critically important in your role and what qualities are needed to do the job well?

I see my role as being a fixer. My job is to remove obstacles, support my team, and help them do their jobs as effectively as possible.

At its core, sales is really about problem-solving. Whatever the industry, customers are looking for something that meets their needs, and it's our responsibility to help them find the right solution. I want my sales teams to spend as much time as possible out with customers, building relationships and understanding their challenges.

The qualities that are most important are being pragmatic, logical and objective. You need to be able to see an issue from both sides and remain level-headed when under pressure. Sales can be a demanding environment with targets, deadlines and expectations, so staying calm and focusing on solutions is essential.

4. What is the biggest misconception about what you do?

I think people often assume that, as Sales Director, I spend most of my time visiting customers. In reality, that's no longer the case.

Over the years, I've handed over most of my personal customer relationships because I wasn't able to give them the level of service they deserved while managing my wider responsibilities. For everyone in sales face-to-face meetings have become less frequent because virtual meetings are often quicker and more convenient for everyone involved. 

Today, I spend much more time at my desk than people might expect. There's a significant amount of strategy, planning, analysis and problem-solving involved. It's a blend of being on the road and office-based, but I've always enjoyed fixing things and finding solutions.

5. What does your day typically look like?

A lot of my time is spent supporting my team. Across the business that includes around 30 people, including the Northern and Southern Sales Directors, External and Internal Sales Engineers, and the Sales Service team.

I help monitor performance, support projects, review opportunities and work through challenges. Most of our work is UK-focused, although we do have some overseas projects.

I don't have any customers of my own these days, but I still enjoy getting out and meeting customers whenever possible. 

6. How important are sustainability, the environment, and our planet to you?

It's incredibly important.

We only have one planet, and we need to look after it better than we have in the past. Having young children has changed my perspective even further. I often think about the world they will inherit and what life might be like for them in the future.

Perhaps one day I'll have grandchildren too, and thinking about future generations really puts the importance of sustainability into perspective. We all have a responsibility to leave things in a better place than we found them.

The thing that motivates me most of all…

I want my family to be proud of me.

My parents worked incredibly hard and set a great example, and I want to do the same for my children. I had a very happy childhood, but I also remember the commitment and effort my parents put into providing for us.

I'm motivated by working hard, setting a positive example and enjoying what I do. We spend such a large portion of our lives at work that it's important to be passionate about it. When you genuinely enjoy your job, it makes a huge difference.