Richard Blakebrough, Dave Brannon, Gayle McCann, Alison Isbister and Chris Appleby
8th September 2015
We have expanded our business development team with several industry specialists to accelerate its growth across the UK and globally.
Newly appointed Dave Brannon, Gayle McCann and Chris Appleby join the existing AIS sales team of Richard Blakeborough, Mark Paterson, Gavin Taylor and Alison Isbister to raise awareness of the company’s multi award-winning passive fire protection (PFP) and insulation products and state-of-the-art training centre. As well as providing specialist advice and account management support to AIS’s worldwide customer-base, the team will be promoting the company’s unrivalled portfolio of industrial skills courses throughout the UK. These courses, which include skills such as manual handling, first aid at work and fire awareness, boost competencies and improve safety in the workplace.
Dave Brannon joins AIS from tool and equipment-hire giant HSS where he worked for 23 years. During his time at HSS, Dave progressed from North Shields’ branch manager to various field sales and management roles - finally heading up business development for the company’s training offer in the North. Dave succeeded in winning significant new business and secured hundreds of new clients across the North of England and Scotland.
Gayle McCann from North Shields previously worked in a sales role for a local estate agent. With ten years’ experience in both managing and selling, Gayle prides herself on customer service and driving teams forward. She was one of the first in the country to complete the level 5 diploma in Estate Agency which is accredited by the National Federation of Property Professionals giving her extensive knowledge of business promotion, organisation and sales techniques. Gayle now takes on a business development role at AIS supporting the rest of the sales team in opening doors.
Chris Appleby, who is also from North Shields, joins AIS from Barclays Bank where he was responsible for looking after existing business clients with a turnover of £250k-£1million. The 29-year-old holds professional qualifications in business banking and has won several awards for the high quality of his work and for developing strong customer relationships with the local business community in Tyne & Wear.
Dave Brannon speaks for all three of the new starters when he said: “I’m super excited to be joining AIS and am really looking forward to making a difference within the organisation. In my previous role I had done business with AIS, so was well aware of the company and its professional and innovative approach. After such a long time with my previous employer it was a big decision to move to somewhere new but I’m a North East lad first and foremost and really wanted to be part of a local company where I feel I can make a positive contribution. Although AIS is extremely well known for delivering high-quality offshore training, not many know about the range of specialised industrial training the company also delivers. I’m really looking forward to promoting this exceptional training offer throughout the North East and beyond.”
