Lubezine Magazine Vol. 9 April - June 2014 | Page 28

QUESTIONS 10 SALES PROCESS FOR LUBRICANTS PROFESSIONALS My take on the Kenyan lubricants industry I n the year 2000, a student joined a lubricants marketing organization in what was expected to be an ordinary internship spell. However, as fate would have it, that would be BILLY MUGER’S first step into the numerous professional opportunities available in the lubricants industry. He developed an enduring interest in lubricants and has never looked back ever since. In the course of his career,spanning over ten years now, Billy has worked with various organizations within the industry and in various positions. For this issue, Lubezine magazine team spoke with him to get his perspectives on the industry based on his professional experiences. Here are highlights of that interview: Lubezine: When did you start your career in lubricants? Billy: I joined the lubricants industry in the year 2000 and have remained actively involved to date. focused on used oil management. That experience sparked my interest in lubricants. So that was the beginning of my ongoing involvement in lubricants. What inspired you to take up a career in lubricants? What companies have you worked for previously and in what positions? Well, it all started when I joined Kenya Shell as an intern. In the course of my internship stint at the organization, I became part of a project My first professional job in lubricants was with Total Kenya, where I was a Lubes Sales Engineer. Afterwards, I joined Chevron Kenya 26 to be a Lubes Business Consultant. Then I moved to Synergy Lubricant Solutions as a Lubes Consultant, after which I proceeded to Hass Petroleum in Uganda. What have been your most memorable career highlights? The most memorable experience so far regards my period at Chevron. My job involved promoting lubes business through innovative marketing activities. At the organization, I took pleasure in participating in such exciting sales promotional activities as consumer SMS messaging and scratch-and-win sales promotions. What is the most difficult challenge you have faced in the course of your career? Handling customer liability claims made to my employer can at times be one of the most demanding challenges of my work. Sometimes a client comes with a complaint about the failure of a costly industrial machinery bearing, for example. Running a thorough LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | February-April 2014