Craig Gibbs

Professional, hardworking Technical and Managerial person with 28+ years' experience boosting sales and customer loyalty through individualized service. Dedicated expert at identifying customer needs, directing desired products aiding representatives to meet sales targets. Committed to customer relationship building with positivity and professionalism. Passionate about 'Connectivity'.

Strong

Business and Technical skills set.

Technical Sales Manager / Field Application Engineer - IOT Electronics

(2025-01)

Assisting current Customer base with sales and technical queries.

• Secured IOT Electronics as an Authorised Distributor of Phoenix Contact products.
• Assisted with onboarding of new Customers for the Phoenix Contact Brand, assisted with technical issues, suggesting feasible alternative products to Customers.
• Responsible for developing Phoenix Contact vertical markets with current and new products with existing and potential Customers.
• Assisted with the onboarding of Powell Electronic Products and IOT Electronics as the Sole South African Distributer of their portfolio offering.
• New Hires – Training on PCB level and industrial products components, both from a technical and commercial level.
• New product introductions with Customers Engineering Teams from the IOT Electronics portfolio.
• Regular Supplier meetings regarding both technical and commercial product platforms with all IOT Electronics Suppliers.

Business Unit Manager / Field Application Engineer - Phoenix Contact SA - Johannesburg

(2020-01 - 2025-01)

Managed three Business sectors within the portfolio: FDC – Field Device Connectivity, IFC – Industrial Connectivity, DCS – Field device Enclosures.

• Ensured Business and new product development promotions for representatives.
• Assisted Representatives with Customer visits regarding solutions for applications at Customers.
• Regular training with Representatives on product portfolios and new product introductions.
• Overlooked stock levels on all three Business Units.
• Received annual training (on-site in GMBH) on Market trends and new product introductions for the following calendar year.
• Quarterly budget reports and forecasts with potential business growth insight to Phoenix Contact GMBH DC Divisional Managers.
• Oversaw pricing "to market" structures as well as annual project pricing contracts.
• Technically assisted Phoenix Contact's Authorized Distributors with popular technologies and stock levels according to market demands, also assisting in the implementation of above sector products.
• Assisted ISE's (Integration system Engineers) with product selection and fitment solutions for product and site critical implementation. (On-Site)
• Hosted technical seminars to ISE'S as well as prospective field Project based opportunities on business unit sectors regarding existing and new product development.
• Traveled to Branches in KZN, Gqeberha, Cape-Town and Nelspruit, aiding them with technical support/solutions and Customer visits regarding the DC Portfolio offering.

Field Application Engineer / Sales Manager - TRX Electronics - Pretoria

(2015-01 - 2020-01)

• Promote focus products at key customers and technical sales training for Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg branches.
• Establish and cultivate business relationships with new and existing customers.
• Supplier review and budget meetings. New product introduction drives, sales incentive product drives, stock level control.
• Sales review, budget co-ordination.
• Technical sales and support across portfolio.

Branch Manager / Field Application Engineer - Sealtron SA - Johannesburg

(2012-01 - 2016-01)

Startup, develop, manage Johannesburg branch.

• Introduce, promote products and services.
• Sales/Technical support for Gauteng region.
• Stores control, purchasing, goods receiving. Stock level control, invoicing and dispatching.
• Customer account management.
• Supplier product introductions, review meetings.

Sales and Field Application Engineer - ASD/Kopp Electronics/Avnet

(1994-01 - 2015-01)

• Internal sales – Semiconductor based products.
• External sales – Semiconductor based products.
• Amalgamation of ASD into Kopp Electronics resulted in portfolio expansion and promotion, Semiconductor and IPE products.
• Promotion to IPE department – Focus on IPE product growth.
• Avnet acquired Kopp Electronics.
• Promoted to FAE/Line Management – Interconnect portfolio.
• Supplier meetings, inventory level control, product drives and technical support to customers and sales team.
• New product introduction drives, sales team training.
• Key supplier training. Projects conversion support.
• National branch training and technical support.

Matric - Queens High School (1987-01 - 1991-01)

N3 – N6 Electronics - Electronics - Germiston Technical College (1992-01 - 1993-01)