REO business development manager focuses on drives

REO UK has appointed Tim Cooke as business development manager. Tim, who for 16 years drove RS Components’ sales leadership initiative after a successful period in account management, has also worked for Cray Electronics and Control Techniques.

Tim’s brief will include expanding REO’s power quality components supply to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including manufacturers of variable speed drives and inverters, as well as installers and system integrators.

“I headed up the electronics sales division for RS Components in the UK, managing a large team of people; both internal and in field sales,” reveals Tim. “I had always been aware of REO UK through the company’s managing director, Steve Hughes, who was a colleague at one stage.

“Prior to coming to work for REO, we had exchanged ideas and experiences about things we were doing within our careers. I had certainly been interested in the development of REO and then last year, Steve and I had various conversations with REO in Germany about bringing the methodology and philosophy of large blue-chip organisations to the company.

“Like RS Components, REO prides itself on great products and customer service as well. Those two things are a good foundation to work from. REO has a prudent track record of supply, primarily to OEMs of vibratory feeders, as well as power quality components for maintenance and repair applications.”

Tim explains that REO products, whether off-the-shelf or designed specifically for customers, provide legislation compliant solutions, enhanced return on investment and low energy consumption. He intends to get this message out to new customers, in the way that REO has already delivered it to its vibratory feeder customer base.

He hopes his role will help REO overcome any barriers that may prevent the company meeting its customer needs, and improve the communication of the things it does well. Though stationed in the UK, his remit also includes working with REO subsidiaries in Europe, the US, China and India.

Married with two daughters of 10 and 15 years old, Cooke enjoys motorcycling on his BMW F800R and plans to tour Scotland in late summer or autumn – “a bit of a mid-life crisis, I guess,” he quips.