ICI PAINTS, AKZONOBEL INVESTS IN THE EXPANSION OF ITS SPECIFICATION SALES FORCE

22 January 2009

The professional specification team is such an essential part of ICI Paints, AkzoNobel, that even during the economic downturn the company is investing in the expansion of the team to ensure customers continue to receive the best quality service and expert advice across all brands and its entire range of products.
The changes come following the acquisition of ICI Paints by the world's largest global paints and coatings company, AkzoNobel, in January 2008.

The new regional specification team will comprise seven additional members, taking the total number of Specifier Account Managers to 42. This has also enabled ICI Paints to grow the number of teams from six to seven, further improving an already impressive regional offering. Mike Cummins, has been appointed as the seventh regional manager, heading up the new North West region.
The national specification team will also be maintained, giving a total of 59 specification experts across the country, who are on hand to offer technical support and advice whatever the project.
To date, the Sikkens product range has been handled by a separate specification group, but from January 2009, this will be combined with the existing ICI Paints, AkzoNobel specifier account team to provide a pool of experts across all brands and product categories, from woodcare to paints, fillers and specialist coatings.
Whilst building the specification team, ICI Paints, AkzoNobel continues its focus on providing a full service offering to painting contractors through its 35 Business development managers and national account team.
Liam Ryan, Sales Director for Contractors and Specifiers at ICI Paints, AkzoNobel says: “Supporting specifiers is an essential part of what we do, so we are committed to making sure that the service we provide is of the very highest quality. We have therefore invested in a programme to simplify the structure and grow the number of our specification team, which will allow our customers to access even more experts to help deliver quality specifications across the whole of our paints and coatings range, including the newly acquired Sikkens portfolio. We are positive that these changes will provide our loyal customers with the service they deserve, and the product offering they expect, from the market leading paint manufacturer.”
For more information about the range of specifier services available, please see http://www.icipaints.co.uk/specifiers. Alternatively, to speak to a member of the specification team, please call 0870 242 1100.