Simon Ryan, Director of LogiXML EMEA and previously European Sales Director for the business has faced many challenges while growing the EMEA business. From his first sales that was handed to him on a plate, to a career that has a genuine interest in ensuring customer value, and a team of employees that are encouraged to achieve a healthy work life balance.

Rising to the top in any profession is difficult and in sales getting to the top can take many different route’s, but none can be more unconventional than Daniel Howard who started out on a career in Politics and Law but currently holds the position of Sales Director at Search Office Space; Lawyers, Politicians and Salesmen, a lethal combination!

At the recent British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards ran by the ISMM, the prestigious Sales Professional of the Year award went to John Schofield from Merial Animal Health. This award was described by the judges as the 'blue ribbon award', perhaps the most coveted award of the evening. Schofield picked up this award on the back of an exceptional year; one in which he has overseen the building of his new home.

Whilst Lord Sugar's profile has long been public property, that of his right hand man, Nick Hewer has only recently comer to the fore, specialising in raising the profiles of others rather than promoting himself. A foil to Lord Sugar's famoulsy aggressive approach, he is well known for his calm, insightful commentary as well as his quick with and dry sense of humour. Here he talks about selling, The Apprentice and why he will never outsell Lord Sugar.

At hte recent BESMA awards run by the ISMM, Tony McHardy of Business Stream won the coveted 'Sales DIrector of the Year' award. McHardy had to battle against fellow Sales Directors from companies such as Virgin Business Media, Pareto Law and Winkhaus UK, so what made him stand out from the rest?

Duncan Hart joined information security firm Integralis in October 2007 as Client Director, part of a series of appointments supporting ambitious plans to transform the business from a supplier into one of Europe's leading providers of managed professional services, in 2010 he was voted Professional Services Sales Person of the year after closing £4m of business.

John Maund, Virgin Media Business Sales Manager, Public Sector recently won Sales Manager of the Year at the British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards. John leads Virgin Media Business' public sector sales team and spoke with SalesPro.

Simon Leggett took the bold step to leave $23bn multi channel, global office products provider Staples to join £43m independent, The Consortium, as Sales & Marketing Director in May because he wanted a challenge. The Consortium has been successfully selling into the Education & Care markets for 40 years and a strong team has built a robust and profitable operation internally, but there is a great opportunity to develop top line sales. 

Dean Forbes became the youngest VP of Sales that Oracle had seen for 29 years, only a few years earlier he was enjoying a football career that reached its peak when he scored a goal in a World Cup qualifier. Now taking on a new challenge with KDS and looking to treble sales in 36 months, we were keen to find out more about Dean's career and his thoughts about selling, being the young guy, charities and scoring goals

At the recent BESMA awards, Victoria Jameson won the award for 'Best New Sales Professional', The SalesPro caught up with Victoria to find out what she did to make 2009 such a memorable year, and how she hopes to keep the momentum going in 2010.