Get To Know Alex Cooke – Regional Sales Manager
After starting with Midland Lead in March 2024, Alex is relishing the challenge of covering the North of the country as Regional Sales Manager.
How would you describe your day-to-day job?
This is a hard one to describe as every day can be very different. My main role is to visit customers, that include builders’ merchants and other key clients. The area I cover is quite large and covers the whole of the North Cheshire up to Newcastle, so managing time is one of my main priorities. Luckily, I am really well organised so that helps me to manage my time effectively.
My day often starts with looking at my diary and ensuring the traffic is good! I really enjoy developing and maintaining relationships with customers, so visiting them face-to-face is important and I love meeting people. I also process new and repeat orders, and proactively look out for new opportunities, I am on the phone a lot.
I also spend time at trade days which I enjoy and next week I will be attending an event with Kyle which is great opportunity to meet customers in a more relaxed environment.
What are the main highlights of working at Midland Lead?
Being on the road a lot can be a real challenge when it comes to feeling part of a team as I spend lots of time travelling or with customers, but from the very first day I have been made to feel very welcome. Midland Lead are great at communicating and I speak to people back at the office many times a day.
I also feel that Midland Lead is a real family business and everyone around me has such a positive attitude, and I can tell they really care about the staff. It is great to be part of a team where I feel like I am being heard.
Kyle is a great manager, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to work for, he is friendly, helpful, and professional, always on hand to answer any questions. I really enjoy it when we visit key customers together as he has a great rapport with everyone he meets, and I am sure anyone he has met will agree with this.
If you could learn to do anything new, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to drive a HGV. I don’t want to work as a lorry driver, but it is something that I would love to be able to do. For a long time, I have also wanted to get a motorcycle licence – one day I will get this when I have the time.
What song title best describes your personality?
When I get there by Pink. Mainly because I am always striving to do something new and push my boundaries. Sitting down doesn’t suit me, I like to be on the go all the time.
How did your career bring you to becoming a Regional Sales Manager?
Very early in my career I started working with a roofing merchant, and eventually I started to go and visit customers as a field sales manager role. When the role was advertised at Midland Lead it sounded perfect as I wanted to further my career and maintain my love for meeting people and developing relationships with customers. I was delighted to get the role and I am really enjoying working here as part of the team.
Finish this sentence:
I once met… Carl Thompson and I even trained with him as a boxer.
Tell us 3 things most people at work don’t know about you.
- I have 2 children ages 5 and 7. Family is really important to me and my children are very supportive and let me get on with my job.
- My favourite holidays are cruises.
- I love hiking, and recently did the Yorkshire Three Peaks for charity.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I can see how Midland Lead have won so many awards. It is so clear that they are always working to better themselves, their processes and supporting their staff. As a company they really care and I think this resonates with the fact that they are very well respected in the industry. I feel very lucky to work here.
Although I have a very large area to cover, I never feel alone. There is a good solid management structure and I know that I can get quick answers to any queries I may have, and any issues get resolved very quickly.
