Behind the Scenes: Yorkshire and Humber Head of Sales and Head of Operations

Sean Hewis, Regional Head of Sales, and David Turner, Regional Head of Operations, oversee the Yorkshire and Humber region of Dawsongroup vans. Between them they ensure the superior service customers can expect from Dawsongroup vans.

Growing the Region from the Ground Up

Both Sean and David have played an integral part in creating and building the Dawsongroup vans presence within Yorkshire and Humber. Sean joined the organisation in 2012 to set up and open a dedicated location in the centre of Doncaster. After considerable hard work the depot grew and so did the team. In 2016, David joined Sean and took on the responsibility of managing operations. With previous experience in the automotive industry and profitable depot management, David was the perfect fit to help Sean continue growing the region.

Just under ten years and two site moves later, Sean, David, and the team now operate out of a purpose-built location, with great motorway links just outside of Doncaster where they manage a fleet of 1,800 vehicles. Sean manages the experienced team of Area Sales Managers (ASMs) and David is responsible for the operations staff, including the hire desk team, service and maintenance team, and mobile mechanics.

Empowering the Team to Succeed

One of the main reasons for the consistent growth of the region is Sean and David’s ability to forecast and prepare for anything.

“No two days are ever the same within our line of work, meaning the ability to forecast and predict things before they become a problem is critical to success,” said David. “When Sean and I identify any potential issues on the horizon, we work alongside the team to make sure everyone feels supported and ready to adapt to any changes in the quickest and least disruptive way.”

As the team has grown, both Sean and David have created a culture that empowers the team to excel.

Sean said, “One of the things I love about my position is being able to see the ASMs grow and succeed in their role. Even though I still directly manage a core customer base, a lot of my work involves mentoring and supporting the ASMs as and when they need it, providing them with a platform to succeed.” This strong sense of teamwork and trust in one another has ensured that both the sales and operations teams can provide a market leading service to existing and new customers.

“We view ourselves as one big team,” said David. “Having confidence in each other’s ability across the teams allows us to commit to customer requirements. We know the region will be able to support them, no matter how tough the task might be.”

True Advocates of a Smarter Asset Strategy

Both Sean and David are passionate about telling the Dawsongroup story. They love working with and supporting a variety of customers, providing them with a personal service, both of which are fundamental to life at Dawsongroup.

Sean said, “Customers like dealing with Dawsongroup because they value the relationships they build with the entire team.”

“From the account manager through to the operations team, the customer sees the value in the solutions we provide them,” said David. “They know that no matter where they are or what they need, they can call Dawsongroup and find their solution.”

Ambitions for the Future

Sean and David have been at the heart of building the Yorkshire and Humber region to date, and it is no shock that building on this growth is one of the main aims for the pair’s future ambitions.

Sean said, “What we have achieved to date is amazing; however, we are still firmly focused on growing and developing Dawsongroup vans coverage within the region even further.”

“We are constantly reviewing our coverage and performance,” said David, “looking for new areas within the region where there may be opportunities for further growth.”

Outside of work, Sean enjoys travelling, and he is planning to complete the famous Route 66 in the USA this year, driving over 2400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. He is also an avid follower of Grimsby Town F.C., which does lead to some rivalry at work with David, who is a Lincoln City supporter.  David also spends much of his time out of the office constructing models, as he is a big Lego Technic fan. One of the biggest pieces he built was a Liebherr R9 Excavator which had over 42,00 pieces!

If you are interested in joining the Dawsongroup vans team, or any other part of Dawsongroup, check out our careers, or find out more about our Smarter Asset Strategy.