Stuart Lazenby

Commercially driven Senior Sales and Business Development professional with over 30 years of experience across the plant hire, powered access, construction equipment and capital equipment sectors. A proven track record of winning significant new business, developing high-value customer portfolios, increasing revenue and utilisation, and progressing from operational and field sales roles into senior leadership and Sales Director positions. Experienced in strategic sales leadership, account management, new business development, team management, fleet procurement, pricing strategy and operational performance.

Known for building strong customer relationships, identifying commercial opportunities and consistently delivering measurable growth. Career highlights include generating over £400k of new business in a first year, growing portfolios from £580k to over £1m, increasing fleet size from 48 to 111 machines, achieving sustained utilisation above 80%, and repeatedly delivering record turnover and revenue growth.

Senior Account Manager - ZOOMLION

(2026-05)

Responsible for developing new business opportunities and managing strategic customer relationships across the capital equipment sector.

• Developing new business opportunities across a large geographical territory.
• Managing and growing an existing customer portfolio.
• Conducting customer meetings and site visits.
• Demonstrating capital equipment and advising customers on suitable solutions.
• Developing weekly sales plans and managing pipeline activity.
• Producing sales reports and maintaining accurate commercial forecasts.
• Managing a territory covering Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Kent.
• Building long-term relationships with customers and identifying opportunities for future growth.

Sales Director - AERIAL & HANDLING SERVICES

(2025-05 - 2026-05)

Senior leadership role responsible for contributing to the strategic direction and commercial growth of the business while maintaining direct involvement in sales and business development.

• Worked with fellow Directors to develop and execute company strategy.
• Contributed to fleet procurement and investment decisions.
• Introduced new systems, processes and commercial ideas.
• Supported the ongoing development of the sales function.
• Built and developed new customer relationships.
• Developed a customer portfolio from scratch.
• Supported credit control strategy, including customer credit limits and overdue debt management.
• Conducted site surveys and recommended appropriate powered access equipment.
• Developed customer pricing structures.
• Resolved commercial, operational and customer service issues.
• Delivered 17% revenue growth.
• Added 50 new customer accounts.
• Reduced reliance on broker-generated business.

Powered Access Sales Manager - FGS PLANT

(2020-09 - 2025-04)

Responsible for driving powered access revenue, developing the customer base and supporting the commercial performance of the business.

• New business acquisition and account development.
• Built a customer portfolio from scratch.
• Managed pricing and commercial agreements.
• Conducted site surveys and recommended appropriate equipment.
• Produced sales reports and forecasts.
• Managed customer relationships across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hampshire.
• Resolved customer, invoicing and operational issues.
• Developed new opportunities through site visits and contractor relationships.
• Helped grow the powered access fleet from 48 to 111 machines.
• Achieved record performance levels for the powered access division.
• Maintained utilisation above 80% for nine consecutive weeks.

Sales Director - SKYLINE HIRE

(2020-02 - 2020-09)

Promoted into a senior leadership position with responsibility for sales strategy, team performance and commercial development.

• Developed and executed sales strategy alongside the Managing Director.
• Managed and reviewed sales team performance.
• Led and supported sales and hire desk personnel.
• Introduced new commercial systems and processes.
• Supported credit control strategy and customer credit management.
• Maintained direct involvement in sales and business development.

Sales Manager - SKYLINE HIRE

(2018-01 - 2020-02)

Responsible for building new business, developing customer relationships and leading sales activity across a significant geographical area.

• Built a new customer portfolio.
• Won and developed new business.
• Managed key customer relationships.
• Led a small sales team.
• Developed telesales activity through the hire desk.
• Managed sales reporting, planning and forecasting.
• Conducted site surveys and equipment demonstrations.
• Managed commercial pricing structures.
• Delivered record turnover during the first year despite only working ten months.
• Generated £400k of new business in the first year.
• Increased this to £625k in the second year.
• Delivered a record first quarter in 2020.

Field Sales Representative – London South - AFI UPLIFT

(2016-04 - 2018-01)

Responsible for new business development and account growth across London South and the South East.

• Developed new customer relationships.
• Grew an existing portfolio.
• Supported the turnaround of an underperforming depot.
• Conducted site surveys and recommended appropriate powered access equipment.
• Managed customer pricing and commercial agreements.
• Supported credit control and overdue account management.
• Maintained regular customer contact through office and site visits.
• Started with just 7 machines on hire within my portfolio, growing this to a peak of 58 machines.
• Contributed to depot growth from approximately 80 machines to a peak of 172 machines.
• Ranked No.1 nationally for new business, generating £180k despite joining later than competing representatives.

Regional Account Manager – South East - FACELIFT POWERED ACCESS

(2014-11 - 2016-03)

Responsible for developing and managing a large regional customer base across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

• Managed and developed an existing portfolio.
• Identified high-value opportunities across approximately 3,500 accounts.
• Focused activity on larger and higher-spending customers.
• Conducted site surveys and recommended equipment solutions.
• Developed pricing strategies.
• Generated new business through proactive prospecting and site visits.
• Grew portfolio value from £580k to £1m during the first full year.
• Delivered consistent quarter-on-quarter growth.
• Developed individual accounts from approximately £1k annual spend to £40k–£50k+.

Account Manager - UK PLATFORMS - Crawley

(2010-05 - 2014-11)

Responsible for managing a high-value customer portfolio while driving significant new business growth.

• Managed a customer portfolio valued at over £1m.
• Identified and developed high-value new accounts.
• Targeted opportunities worth £50k+.
• Conducted site surveys and recommended appropriate equipment.
• Managed pricing structures.
• Delivered sales planning, forecasting and KPI management.
• Developed relationships across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
• Generated £250k of new business in my first full year.
• Achieved the highest bonus in the South during 2011.
• Regularly ranked amongst the top two Account Managers in the South.
• Increased Crawley branch utilisation from 41% to over 70%, peaking at 85%.
• Grew personal portfolio to £1m+.
• Selected to train new starters.
• Contributed to Crawley depot achieving target in consecutive years.

Account Manager / Sales Representative - HIRESTATION / POWER TOOL SUPPLIES - Hove & Crawley

(2005-06 - 2010-04)

Responsible for developing sales across two branch territories and supplying construction customers with power tools, hand tools, fixings and hire equipment.

• New business development.
• Account management.
• Customer needs analysis.
• Site surveys and equipment recommendations.
• Sales planning and reporting.
• Quotation management.
• Prospecting and appointment setting.
• Achieved Bosch's highest turnover for a single representative.
• Delivered individual sales of £38k and £23k.
• Achieved record turnover months.
• Contributed to bonus achievement in 9 out of 12 months.

Sales Representative - ASHTEAD PLANT HIRE

(2000-02 - 2005-05)

Previously promoted from Hire Negotiator.

• New business development.
• Account management.
• Sales planning and activity reporting.
• Supported depot operations.
• Deputised for management when required.

Hire Negotiator - ASHTEAD PLANT HIRE

(1997-12 - 2000-01)

Responsible for managing hire and off-hire activity, customer enquiries and supporting day-to-day depot operations.

Hire Desk / Depot Operations - GAMBLE JARVIS PLANT

(1994-04 - 1997-11)

Early career role supporting hire desk operations and depot management.

• Managed hire and off-hire activity.
• Handled customer enquiries.
• Managed powered access hire records.
• Input operational data.
• Supported depot management and staff coordination.
• Assisted with daily depot operations.

City & Guilds - Motor Vehicle Engineering - Northbrook College, Shoreham Airport

9 GCSEs - St Andrews High School for Boys, Worthing