India assures US business of a level playing field

Washington, June 14 (IANS) Assuring US businesses of "a level playing field" and "total transparency", India has invited them to take advantage of enormous business opportunities offered by India's plans to invest over a trillion dollars in infrastructure development.

"We have assured everyone who would be interested in making investments in India that there is going to be a level playing field and there will be total transparency," Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Wednesday at a joint press conference after the India-US strategic dialogue.

"With these two parameters being ensured, I am sure that a number of companies from outside India would be willing to participate in this great developmental journey that India is setting out on," he said.

Noting that "there is a degree of scepticism" about the economic content of the India-US relationship, Krishna reiterated that the Indian economy will restore investors' confidence and regain the growth momentum.

"Indian plans to invest more than a trillion dollars on infrastructure development in the coming five years will provide enormous business opportunities which the US companies can consider exploiting," he said. "Openness and growth in the US economy will also support stronger economic ties."

The joint statement issued after the dialogue he co-chaired with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "noted that bilateral trade in goods and services continues to grow and will likely reach $100 billion by the end of 2012".

The joint statement also "called for an expeditious conclusion to negotiations toward a high standard Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) as a key part of the effort to deepen the economic relationship, improve investor confidence, and support economic growth in both countries".

At the outset of the dialogue, Clinton had made an indirect pitch for India opening up its lucrative multi-brand retail for foreign investors, which has been put on hold due to opposition from some of UPA government's key allies like Trinamool Congress.

"We look forward to working to advance negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty, to further reduce barriers to trade and investment in areas like multi-brand retail, and to create hospitable environments for each of our companies to do business in the other's country," she said.

However, the joint statement made no specific reference to "multi-brand retail".

India has already allowed 100 percent FDI in single-brand retail. However, the cabinet decision to allow 51 percent FDI in the multi-brand retail sector has been deferred.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

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Field Based Account Manager- Sacramento

Responsibilities :
• Develop strategies to create new business opportunities and clients within the Northern California region.
• Maintain and develop existing customer relationships.
• Identify, qualify, negotiate and win new business, delivering volumes in line with businesses objectives and rules of winning (ROW = minimum volume thresholds).
• Strengthen SOPUS brands and increase market share in respective territory.
• Provide high level support to national accounts.
• Support local distributors in prospecting and growing their business.
• Fill pipeline with qualifying accounts, identify these accounts through cold calling, networking and business journals
• Able to competently analyze P+L statements and provide a consultative service to key growth accounts. 
• Partner primarily with gold and platinum banded customers. Developing strong and mutually beneficial relationships with our distributor network. Working alongside distributor reps, assisting them with complex negotiations and provide training where necessary.
• Exceed team and individual KPIs as set by management.
• Able to demonstrate high-level understanding of lubes business.
• Plan customer calls and visits to provide the appropriate level of service to existing and new customers with a focus on retaining/expanding existing business relationships and acquiring new business relationships.
• Increase the value for existing Shell customers through cross, range and up selling.
• Understand the activity, business and needs of customers,provide sound information and advice on products and services, and to sell and negotiate win-win solutions with customers.
• Plan, monitor and achieve individual sales targets (e.g. volume, margin, growth, named customer CVP, and trade debtor target).
• Develop, update, maintain, and communicate the Account Plan.
• Effectively use customer relationship management software.
• Effectively use the SPANCOP process in sales activities.
• Support and execute, as necessary, activities for Down Stream One.
• Be responsible and proactive in HSSE issues that affects the individual, the office/field environment and their customers.
• Be accountable for own development plan to continuously improve competencies.

Demonstrated ability to grow sales as measured by period-over-period increases in one or more of the following key performance indicators:
•  Sales volume
•  Market share
•  Indirect channel efficiency
•  Overall profitability
•  Per unit profit

Desired Skills:
Requirements :
• Must have legal authorization to work in the US on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or related field. 
• Minimum five (5) years experience of solid field sales and selling brand value.
• Must live in Sacramento, California or within an easily commutable distance. 
• The ability to travel up to 60% to 70% of the time throughout Northern California and Reno, Nevada is required.  Must be comfortable going to travel through remote areas.
• Proven success developing new business relationships and effectively closing new clients is essential for this position. 
• Previous experience providing consultative sales support and marketing guidance to distributors and/or wholesalers is preferred.
• Previous experience managing all aspects of after-market automotive distribution operation preferred.
• Territory sales experience with P+L accountability responsibility across given territory preferred.

Proven ability to: 
• Overseeing credit performance.
• Setting pricing strategies to maximize profitability.
• Developing and negotiating multi-year sales agreements. 
• Negotiating independent dealer contract renewals. 
• Managing brand messages, outlining and selling in marketing and sales strategies and monitoring performance against those initiatives.
• Knowledge of CRM/SPANCOP based tools and other internal systems.
• Demonstration of Enterprise First behaviors. 

The Shell Group offers an outstanding benefits package. No phone inquiries will be accepted.

Employment Type: PERMANENT
Hours: FULLTIME

Benefits:

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NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - B2B FIELD SALES - Travel Weekly

Our client is a leading travel loyalty and benefits company, working within the B2B sector across both employee and consumer benefit and reward programmes. They are currently looking to recruit two New Business Development Managers to identify, attract and secure new corporate accounts by creating and managing custom programmes aligned to their brand and corporate values. The successful candidate will have outstanding B2B sales experience ideally gained within a loyalty / benefits / corporate travel organisation.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Identify, target and approach new business opportunities and clients within your designated sales area.
Research and compile tailored travel proposition and present to potential new clients, meeting with senior managers and directors.
Negotiate and secure contracts.
Attend networking events and trade shows.
Work closely with commercial team to ensure best products are secured.
Responsible for regional sales budget ensuring in line with delivery of key sales targets.

REQUIREMENTS OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Extensive B2B sales experience gained ideally within a loyalty / benefits / corporate travel organisation.
Proven sales experience in an environment of cold calling / self generation of leads
Excellent negotiation, communication and presentation skills.
Exceptionally sales driven with a highly consultative approach.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Our client is offering a competitive package including a basic salary of £40k per annum (uncapped bonus £80K OTE), Company Car, 25 days holidays, Contributory Group Personal
Pension, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance, Childcare Vouchers and Travel discounts/friends and family.

PLEASE NOTE INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD WEEK COMMENCING 30 JANUARY 2012. PLEASE APPLY BELOW.

Progressive Personnel is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates.
For more opportunities, please visit www.progressivepersonnel.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO CONTACT CANDIDATES THAT ARE SHORT LISTED FOR THIS ROLE BUT WE MAY REGISTER YOUR CV ON OUR DATABASE AND CONTACT YOU ABOUT SUITABLE ROLES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO REGISTER WITH PROGRESSIVE PERSONNEL, PLEASE EMAIL WITH NO REGISTRATION IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

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