Smart Science to Improve Lives™
Meritxell joined Croda in 2007.
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2007
First experiences
I had been working in sales for chemical specialties in several markets like coatings, paints, water treatment, textile, polymer additives, process additives, personal care and home care. However, while I was studying Chemistry at the University I studied Cosmetics as well, because it was one of the most interesting applications of the chemistry I had discovered. In 2007 Croda Iberica offered me an opportunity to join their Personal Care and Health Care department. I was delighted to be involved in an exciting project that meant the expansion of Croda after Uniqema acquisition. And after a recruitment process I got the job as Sales Representative.
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2007
Sales Representative Personal Care and Health Care
After some training period in Spain, France and the UK I felt confident to start visiting customers in order to increase the business. I think it was essential the support from my line manager and also people I met during my training who made me feel part of the Croda family.
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2011
Area Sales Manager Personal Care
In 2011 there were some changes in the department where I had been working. It was split into Health Care and Personal Care and my line manager was promoted to the Marketing Department in the UK. It creates me an opportunity to lead the Personal Care Department in Spain followed by a cascade of more changes in the department. It makes me notice how promotion opportunities, which lead changes, make Croda a live and dynamic company. Two new people joined us, one Sales Representative who also will share her time as Area Sales Manager for Crop Care and one Sales Administration. As an Area Sales Manager I took on management responsibility, setting and developing the business strategy, keep on visiting customers and training and coaching the new team. It was a challenging period but I felt supported after taking part of the New Management Development Training in the UK. It helped me to understand more in depth the Croda Policy and gave me the right tools to develop the department and the team. And last but not least I got married in 2011
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2012
Country Sales Manager Personal Care
In 2012 I was given the tittle of Country Sales Manager which reflects the role I was developing in the Department. Also, in 2012 a new Sales Representative joined us.At this time there were three people I was in charge of and I reorganized the Department in accordance to the people working in. One of the new activities of the management is to lead the appraisal of the people that report to you. In addition, this is a process to improve your team and to learn about them but also to learn about yourself. In 2013 the Department was settled, the department was working as a team, new roles, like Sales Administration, were working in the correct way and fresh people were trained enough. As a result I started dedicating more time to the management of the Department.