SEB Professional Beverage has appointed William Yates as senior vice president commercial. Effective this month, he assumes global responsibility for the direct and indirect business, bringing the sales and market service organizations closer together.
“As a global leader, we shape the future of beverage solutions through strong partnerships and a deep understanding of our customers’ needs,” says Martin Zouhar, executive vice president SEB Professional Beverage. “With sales and service under one leadership structure, we can deliver faster responses and clearer accountability in every market, making us even easier to do business with. We are delighted to welcome William Yates to the team. His appointment further strengthens our commitment to creating greater value for our customers and supporting their success around the world.”
Meeting today’s customer expectations
Today, operators expect more from a supplier than a single machine. They evaluate partners based on the entire customer experience, from equipment availability and performance to responsive local service and support. In his new role, Yates will lead both the commercial and market service functions across the brands WMF, Schaerer, Curtis, La San Marco and Zummo, ensuring customers benefit from a more consistent, seamless and responsive experience wherever they operate.
A career built in international markets
Yates has spent more than a decade with Groupe SEB, most recently serving as VP South East Asia and VP Marketing Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong. Prior to this, he held a number of leadership positions in the Group’s UK and Ireland business, including Managing Director, Commercial Director and Sales Director. Earlier roles at Mondelēz International, Kraft Foods and Cadbury further strengthened his track record of delivering profitable growth and increasing market share in mature markets.
“What we promise our customers must be reflected in what we deliver at their sites,” says Mr Yates. “Having our commercial and service teams working to a common plan is what makes that possible. I look forward to spending time in our markets and hearing directly from customers about what they value today and what they expect from us in the future.”
