Cory Rowlands
Ambitious and hardworking sales professional with a strong track record of developing business through distribution channels alongside direct accounts
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About
Ambitious and hardworking sales professional with a strong track record of developing business through distribution channels alongside direct accounts. I take a strategic, relationship-led approach to growing partner accounts, combining technical knowledge with commercial focus to deliver sustainable, long-term growth. I am adaptable and comfortable learning new skills, applying experience from previous roles to new challenges.
I take a practical and structured approach to problem solving, considering both the immediate issue and the wider, long-term impact on the business and its partners. I am keen to bring my technical, commercial and distribution management skills into a new role, while continuing to develop effective, lasting solutions with customers and partners alike.
Experience
Area Sales Manager at Lovato Electric (2026-04 – 2026-09)
Responsible for developing new business, expanding distribution partnerships and growing sales across my region, with around 70% of Lovato's business routed through distribution. The role combines commercial development with identifying technical and cost-effective solutions to meet customer requirements, working closely with distribution partners to grow their business alongside direct accounts.
- Distribution management – Supported and developed distribution partners across the region, helping to grow the 70% of business channelled through them.
- Key account targeting – Identified and targeted key accounts within partner bases to drive focused, sustainable growth.
- Business development – Developed new opportunities and customer relationships across both direct and indirect routes to market.
- Business growth – Grew sales and market presence across the region through a combination of partner and direct engagement.
- Technical solutions – Understood customer requirements and recommended suitable, cost-effective solutions.
Distribution Account Manager at Rittal Ltd (2022-09 – 2026-04)
Originally hired as a Distribution Account Manager, with the role evolving to cover a full overview of all accounts across the territory, spanning both direct and indirect (distribution) business. Around 50% of Rittal's business in the territory was generated through distribution. I engaged heavily with partners to develop this side of the business, running training and joint campaigns and carrying out regular joint customer visits to support their growth.
- Distribution account management – Managed and developed key distribution partners, with a strategic focus on growing engagement and revenue; one partner was grown from £70k to £150k in sales through closer engagement and a targeted account strategy.
- Training and enablement – Delivered product and technical training to distribution partners to build their confidence and capability in selling Rittal solutions.
- Joint campaigns – Planned and ran sales campaigns with key partners to drive focused growth in target areas.
- Joint customer visits – Carried out regular joint visits with partners to support their customer relationships and close opportunities.
- New opportunity development – Followed up leads and discussed solutions with new customers across both direct and indirect channels.
- Exhibitions – Hosted stands to discuss products and services with customers and partners.
- Technical support – Managed customer and partner issues including deliveries, damages and other queries.
Manufacturing Engineer at ICT Ltd (2020-02 – 2022-09)
Produced precision components including charge electrodes, nozzle plates and PRPs, with tolerances as low as 5 microns. Required patience, technical skill and problem-solving to overcome manufacturing challenges.
- Alibre Design – Designed and developed new products and billets, while improving existing processes for greater efficiency.
- NEXIV – Programmed and operated a CNC video measuring system to accurately measure components to sub-micron tolerances.
- CNC Machining – Machined quartz and ceramic components to tolerances as low as 5 microns.
Education
MSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence – University of York (2021 – 2024)
B(Eng) in Mechanical Engineering – Plymouth University (2016 – 2019)
A-levels – St Dominic's Sixth Form College (2014 – 2016)
GCSEs – Cardinal Wiseman RC High school (2009 – 2014)
