| FACTS ABOUT GEORGE | |
|---|---|
| Started in Wärtsilä: | In 2003 as a Sales Coordinator |
| Position now: | Sales Manager, Power Plants |
| Country of Residence: | Kenya |
| Nationality: | Kenyan |
| Education: | Master of Electrical Engineering |
What is your typical day like?
“My current position involves visits to potential customers, listening to their power needs and discussing with them solutions which Wärtsilä could provide to meet those needs.”
What do you enjoy most at Wärtsilä?
“The thing I like most about working for Wärtsilä is that there’s a lot of training and possibilities for personal growth. I feel that I’m personally a good example. I started my career as technician installing and commissioning small generators 12 years ago, but since then I have worked as a Workshop Manager, a Sales Coordinator, a Warranty Engineer, a Field Service Engineer and an Account Manager.”
What do you think you’ve learned from all the different positions?
“During the years I’ve worked in several different locations in Eastern Africa. When I was a technician I gained lots of practical knowledge in mechanical engineering and Wärtsilä’s operating systems in different plants. Sales taught me the commercial terms of business and something about finance, contract negotiations and mitigation of risks. My time in the warranty department showed how to keep installations running and customers happy.”
Going forward, what is your professional goal?
“Now I’m a Sales Manager for power plants. My ambition is to become a guru on energy management and development in Africa. Because of my love for electrical Engineering, I’ve always felt that Wärtsilä is the place to be for me.”
What’s your best experience so far?
“My most positive experience at Wärtsilä was in 2009 when I contributed significantly in meeting the budget and sales of a 120 megawatt power plant in Mombasa. During that year, I got spot bonus thrice and was voted account manager of the year 2009 in Africa.”
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