Running
Nicolas Kowalski
Export Manager
Lisbon
Summary
Goal-oriented manager with distinguished experience in sales and proven leadership abilities. Expert in increasing productivity and customer satisfaction while driving revenue and sales. Committed to streamlining procedures while optimizing employee talent. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Organised and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Sales Manager Europe & UK
Ventisquero Wine Estates
Lisbon, Lisbon
01.2023 - Current
- Closed lucrative sales deals using strong negotiation and persuasion skills.
- Conducted team meetings to reinforce goals and objectives and set clear expectations about policies and procedures.
- Coached employees in successful selling methods and encouraged cross-selling to drive revenue.
- Handled customer relations issues, enabling quick resolution, and client satisfaction.
Asia Sales Director
Viña Ventisquero
Shanghai
04.2016 - Current
- Asia & Middle East
- Responsible for company’s sales and client support operation in Asia & Middle East
- Drive sales growth in area
- Reporting to head office management team
- Strategic marketing activity planning and coordination
- Liaison and coordination with head office marketing department
- Management of key client accounts across the entire region
- Recruitment and management of Asia office team (Sales and Administration)
- Team of 4 people
- Ensure the highest level of customer service is delivered
Asia Sales Manager
Viña Ventisquero
Shanghai
03.2015 - 03.2016
- Manage an active customer list across China and South-East Asia
- Develop winery branded wine portfolio within our customer base
- Raise profile of our portfolio via tasting events and involvement of key opinion leaders
- Prospect for new clients
- Offer training and wine education to customers and colleagues
- Planning of all visits in Asia from winery principals
UK Brand Ambassador
Viña Ventisquero
London
02.2009 - 11.2012
- Represent Viña Ventisquero’s on-trade brands on a national basis
- Work with UK agent’s sales team and key wholesalers to develop premium wine sales
- New business development to prestige accounts (on-trade & independent sectors)
- Develop and implement internal and external incentives in correlation with promotions
- Manage stock levels, ex-cellar ordering and vintage changes to ensure continuity on customer’s wine lists
- Responsible for all UK trade activities and tastings including winemakers visits
- Support wholesale and retail clients at wine tasting and events
- Responsible for staff training (both sales team and on-trade customers)
London Sales Manager
PLB Group Ltd
London
12.2012 - 01.2015
- Grow sales of premium wines within my area with focus on key agencies
- New business development to prestige accounts (on-trade & independent sectors)
- Develop and maintain sound pricing strategy for a wide customer based
- Offer training and wine education to customers and colleagues
- Responsible for recruiting, training and appraise London Sales Executive
- Ensure smooth planning and deliveries of wineries’ UK visit
Wine Buyer
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
London
06.2006 - 01.2009
- Negotiate new sponsorship agreements and maintain relationship with current partners (i.e
- Ruinart UK, Chamarré, Château Lagrezette…)
- Source new wines for the Vinopolis Exhibition and Events Departments (Average of 100 wines tasted every week)
- Control all stock deliveries and issues within Vinopolis and report to the Accounts department for auditing purposes
- Manage direct imports (logistic and paper trail) into bonded warehouse
Corporate Wine Tastings and Events Executive
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
London
09.2003 - 05.2006
- Organise and manage corporate events develop trade tastings
- In charge of booking and managing staff, purchasing wines
- Developed an active portfolio of trade tasting clients (i.e
- Wines of Portugal, Wines of Chile, Fair Trade Wines, SITT…) out of my own initiative
Corporate Wine Tasting Supervisor
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
London
09.2002 - 08.2003
- Responsible for organising and supervising the Vinopolis Tour Tasting team composed of 6 full-timers and 14 part-timers
- Organised staff wine training programs and developed incentive scheme in order to ensure the highest levels of customer service
Tasting Guide
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School, Wine
London
07.2001 - 08.2002
- Responsibilities include; guided tours, ‘How to taste wine’ presentations, hosting corporate and private wine tasting talks alongside promoting the in-house attractions
Sales Assistant
Oddbins, Wine Merchant
London
09.2000 - 06.2001
- Responsible for merchandising to support various promotions
- General stock control duty
- Assisting customers in choosing wine
- Coordinating and inspecting deliveries.
Education
Business Diploma - Wine & Spirit
Lycée Agricole l’Oisellerie (Agricultural Institute
01.1998 - 1 2000
WSET Intermediate and Advanced courses - Catering
01.2000 - 1 2001
Baccalaureat - undefined
Amandier
01.1995 - 1 1998
Skills
Well-developed computing skills (onMac, PC, Office and Internet)
Strategic account development
Strategic account development
Order management
Business development and planning
New Business Development
B to B sales
Extensive personal network
Verbal and written communication
Relationship building
Strategic planning
Sales Reporting
Accomplished manager
Marketing strategy
Direct sales
Account management
Territory Management
Sales presentations
Sales expertise
Interests
Improving VO2Max
Cinema
Timeline
Sales Manager Europe & UK
Ventisquero Wine Estates
01.2023 - Current
Asia Sales Director
Viña Ventisquero
04.2016 - Current
Asia Sales Manager
Viña Ventisquero
03.2015 - 03.2016
London Sales Manager
PLB Group Ltd
12.2012 - 01.2015
UK Brand Ambassador
Viña Ventisquero
02.2009 - 11.2012
Wine Buyer
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
06.2006 - 01.2009
Corporate Wine Tastings and Events Executive
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
09.2003 - 05.2006
Corporate Wine Tasting Supervisor
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School
09.2002 - 08.2003
Tasting Guide
Vinopolis, Wine Tasting School, Wine
07.2001 - 08.2002
Sales Assistant
Oddbins, Wine Merchant
09.2000 - 06.2001
WSET Intermediate and Advanced courses - Catering
01.2000 - 1 2001
Business Diploma - Wine & Spirit
Lycée Agricole l’Oisellerie (Agricultural Institute
01.1998 - 1 2000
Baccalaureat - undefined
Amandier
01.1995 - 1 1998