It’s wonderful to see people in the pump industry nominate their peers! Our Industry Person of the Week hails from France! Meet Christophe Stremez! Here is what he had to share!
Q. How did you get started working in the Industry?
Christophe: My studies were industry related, but as a youngster I started as a customer service engineer for a BtoC company. Every incoming phone call involved a customer facing an issue and having obvious expectations of satisfaction. I started to develop the concept of “customer experience” as I became a senior professional in that company. Then I worked for 2 years as the area sales manager for a different company selling vacuum handling devices and started sales growth in the Southwest of France.
I had the opportunity to join Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group 11 years ago. I worked the first 5 years as an industrial sales engineer, then I championed the launch of our breakthrough product Qdos. That experience opened the door to a senior role into the industrial sales team in France, so now I ensure my colleagues are supported and are active facilitators within our factories.
Since May 2016, my primary mission is to develop, inspire and support our Bredel hose pumps sales across the European market; across 17 countries and many cultures. For the past year or so, I’ve also been working in close collaboration with the Sector Business Development across all of our industrial brands within the group.
Q. What is your favorite part of your job? What are you most proud of?
Christophe: Industry is rich, wide, versatile, and fast moving. That’s the beauty. From my sales background, the most pleasing part remains to visit all kind of industries with “hungry” eyes. I’m always amazed to understand the manufacturing processes. It’s always helpful and challenges me to learn how to support customers in getting the most from their facility or getting the best total Cost of Ownership. I’m very proud when a customer reports a 50k€ savings per year. That’s why we’re in the business – our mission toward industry.
Industry is also a story of humans. I regularly meet talented and committed people, always questioning and challenging the status quo for a better future. I recently had the opportunity to bridge people together, according to their respective needs and resources. It’s great to see the momentum of a group of people when they’re led with the same values. All in all, I’m grateful when somebody is successful as a result of my contribution.
Q. What advice would you give to someone new to the industry?
Christophe: I’ve always thought I had to behave as if the company I was working for was mine, in an entrepreneurial mindset. Do with what’s available around you. Be driven by the opportunity. Always make steps forward (even small ones). Always take the industry’s versatility as an opportunity. Give your very best for people looking to work with you. Be the pilot in the plane in your area of competencies. Always make sure you have the big picture. Your colleagues’ points of view, your company position, customer’s motivation and drivers, but also your customer in his business. Think about what could place all these people in success. Looking wide and being customer-centric helps to be creative when building a win-win solution. Be ethical. Always deliver your promises. Challenge people who are not. Our deliveries have an impact on others and there’s nothing worse than driving somebody to hit the wall!
Thank you, Christophe, for being our Industry Person of the Week and for your work growing people! We look forward to keeping up with you through the #PumpTalk Community!
