RUSSELL Conn has been appointed Scottish sales manager at Bell Equipment UK.
He’s joining the business from Bell South Africa, where he has worked for the past 25 years, to succeed Sandy Fairweather who recently moved to Hydrema.
Born in Scotland, Russell moved to South Africa at the age of 12. He studied civil engineering before being drafted into the South African army. He later studied hotel management and after a stint managing a small hotel and restaurant, he moved to Empangeni, the birthplace of Bell Equipment, to manage a country club.
In 1994 he met Bell’s marketing manager and was invited to apply for a PR assistant role. Russell spent the next 12 years working in the marketing team, where he was responsible for the manufacturer’s attendance at global equipment exhibitions and hosting international visitors to the Bell Equipment factory.
Russell moved to the Bell sales team in 2006, selling ADTs, wheeled loaders, graders, and excavators to the mining and construction sectors, as well as tri-wheelers, tractors, and skidders to the sugar and forestry industries.
He returned to the UK last year, where the rest of his family are already based. Russell said, “The move to the UK had been on the cards for a while and it was during a visit earlier this year that I applied for the role of Scottish sales manager. Following a stringent interview process I was offered the position.
“During my years at Bell I have seen its products evolve, both in terms of technological development and aesthetics. I have witnessed the advancement of its ADTs from the original B series right through to the current E series of machines. Experiencing this progression first hand, and knowing the company’s ethos for constant evolvement, were the main reasons for me wanting to stay within the Bell Equipment family.
“My daughter, mother and sister all live in Scotland, so it is like a coming home for me. I am very much looking forward to meeting our customers in the region and helping them better understand Bell Equipment, it’s machines and what we have to offer.”
Nick Learoyd, managing director of Bell Equipment UK, said he was delighted to welcome Russell to the Bell UK team. He added, ” His extensive experience of various facets of the company has given him an unsurpassed knowledge of both the industry and the Bell business, and we’re confident that this will enable him to provide our customers with the very highest level of service.
“We know that Russell will quickly become an integral part of the team and we’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
