Rio S.

Leading Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) business development for Kia on the Great West Road, supporting SMEs, fleets, and trade businesses transitioning to electric commercial vehicles. Working consultatively with decision-makers to assess real-world usage, EV suitability, and finance structures, helping businesses reduce total cost of ownership, improve operational efficiency, and future-proof their fleets. Key responsibilities include: • Driving B2B and fleet acquisition across trades, logistics, last-mile delivery, charities, and local authorities • Identifying, developing, and managing new business opportunities within the Great West Road and surrounding territories • EV transition planning, usage profiling, and suitability assessments aligned to operational requirements • Advising on finance solutions including leasing and business funding structures • Delivering on-site demonstrations, extended trials, and real-world vehicle evaluations • Acting as the PBV product specialist, providing education on modular platforms, conversions, and upfitting solutions • Building and managing long-term fleet partnerships rather than transactional vehicle sales • Collaborating with internal stakeholders to support PBV strategy, pipeline development, and market growth

• Senior buying and commercial operations role within a fast-paced, independent automotive trading environment. • Supported and coordinated a field-based vehicle buying function across London and surrounding regions. • Responsible for vehicle valuation, damage assessment, and commercial pricing decisions, with a strong focus on buying at sustainable margins and protecting profitability prior to purchase. • Worked closely with buying teams to improve consistency, commercial discipline, and decision-making in live purchasing environments. • Supported acquisition planning, workflow improvements, and operational efficiency across the end-to-end buying and processing lifecycle. • Contributed to the development of processes, training support, and performance oversight to improve overall commercial outcomes.

• Operated an independent vehicle trading business, sourcing stock through auctions, trade platforms, private sellers, and off-market opportunities. • Negotiated vehicle purchases with a strong focus on unit-level margin, stock quality, and exit strategy. • Managed sale-or-return (SOR) vehicles, marketing and selling on behalf of owners without taking ownership of stock. • Handled customer enquiries, advertising, and high-trust, phone-based negotiations, building repeat and referral business. • Oversaw vehicle preparation standards, valeting, and quality control to ensure vehicles were presented correctly for sale. • Involved in sourcing vehicles for overseas shipment, coordinating vehicle selection, preparation, and logistics requirements for export markets.

Supported the growth of a family-run construction and property services business. Helped develop day-to-day operational structure and internal business processes. Introduced job costing models, pricing frameworks and workflow systems to improve efficiency and visibility. Implemented CRM-style job tracking and customer management tools to support scheduling and customer communication. Assisted with supplier coordination, scheduling and operational planning to support business scalability.

Recruitment Consultant supporting an autonomous driving R&D programme in Munich, working on Level 3 autonomous driving projects involving the BMW 7 Series. Supported recruitment for testing and development activities linked to advanced driver assistance systems, including braking and collision avoidance. Managed candidate sourcing, screening and coordination within a confidential, project-based environment.

Sales Executive within the same dealer group, transferring brands from BMW to Audi. Handled customer enquiries, vehicle demonstrations and test drives in a busy Audi showroom. Built repeat and referral business through CRM follow-up and prospecting. Worked closely with aftersales teams to support customer retention and compliant sales processes.

BMW-accredited Sales Executive within a busy, high-volume dealership. Managed customer enquiries across showroom, phone and online channels, delivering vehicle demonstrations and test drives. Proactively generated business through prospecting, customer follow-ups and effective use of the CRM system, building repeat and referral sales. Used CIT Now (See It Now) video messaging to present vehicles, follow up enquiries and maintain customer engagement. Worked closely with the service and aftersales departments to support customer retention and deliver a smooth end-to-end experience, in line with FCA and BMW brand standards.

Sales Executive responsible for retail and light commercial vehicle sales, including Škoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, in a busy dealership environment. Managed customer enquiries, vehicle presentations and test drives, supporting both car and commercial van sales (including small business and sole trader customers). Guided customers through finance, part-exchange and ordering processes, ensuring solutions were aligned to customer needs and usage requirements. Completed all documentation and processes in line with FCA regulations and dealership standards. Worked closely with the wider sales team to maintain showroom standards and deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience.

Led night-shift online delivery and customer operations teams while working full-time alongside college commitments. Managed day-to-day team performance, workload allocation and issue resolution during overnight operations. Tracked key performance indicators, supported workforce planning and monitored operational performance. Implemented customer service and process improvements to support service levels and delivery efficiency.