Aaron Somerset
Auckland,New Zealand
Summary
A forward-thinking and impact-driven professional with a proven track record in commercial environments and demonstrated leadership across diverse teams. Brings a refined skill set spanning strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement, combined with a professional, analytical approach to problem-solving. Committed to delivering meaningful outcomes by building strong, collaborative relationships and driving continuous improvement.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development Manager
Starshipit
04.2024 - Current
- Development of the outbound sales function, building scalable outreach processes, prospecting workflows, and CRM infrastructure to drive top-of-funnel growth and qualified lead generation.
- Utilised technical tools including HubSpot, Salesforce, Apollo, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to build and manage sales pipelines, automate workflows, and execute personalised outbound sequences.
- Engaged directly with prospects and customers, delivering tailored onboarding, training, and product demonstrations to showcase Starshipit’s shipping automation capabilities.
- Translated complex technical product features into clear, value-driven solutions for stakeholders across logistics, operations, and eCommerce teams.
- Collaborated with Product and Engineering teams to align on product roadmap priorities based on customer feedback and recurring sales objections.
- Conducted market segmentation and data-driven outreach strategies aligned with Marketing and reporting dashboards, optimising targeting and engagement.
- Delivered consistent improvements in conversion rates and time-to-value by aligning technical solutions with specific merchant pain points in fulfilment, tracking, and carrier integration.
Branch Manager
Mainfreight Metro (Mainfreight Group)
05.2022 - 04.2024
- Led a team of 29 team across diverse functions within the branch, including a senior leadership team, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with internal group departments, key stakeholders, and operational teams to manage the group’s largest owner-driver fleet (95 drivers), ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery.
- Recruited, trained, and developed teams across Sales, Finance, Administration, and Customer Care, aligning talent strategy with business needs.
- Oversaw branch commercial operations, generating over $20M in annual revenue, ensuring operational efficiency and strategic growth.
- Achieved record profitability in FY22/23, delivering $2.79M in profit, the highest in branch history.
Sales Manager
Daily Freight (Mainfreight Group)
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Closed $1.8M in New Business – Top of Leaderboard for Domestic New Business FY21/22
- Nomination for Mainfreight Sales Person of the year 2021
- Nomination for Mainfreight Sales Team of the year 2021
- Supported the record growth of a domestic transport branch with top line revenue in excess of $56 M p/a
- Coached team members in successful selling methods and encouraged cross-selling to drive revenue
Sales Manager
Chemcouriers (Mainfreight Group)
09.2017 - 12.2020
- Supervised a Sales and Administration team in a highly specialized division of the Mainfreight group, responsible for the domestic transport and logistics of Hazardous Goods
- Delivered engaging sales presentations to new clients, explaining technical information in simplified language to promote features and increase client base.
- Organized promotional events and interacted with Dangerous Goods (DG) community to increase sales volume and develop brand reputation
- Supported record sales revenue, margin percentage and boosted profit through a focused, strategic approach
Account Manager
(Mainfreight Group)
08.2014 - 08.2017
- Successfully managed the account base for a Mainfreight branch exceeding revenue of $7 million per annum
- Provided support and service to the larger Import/Export client base
- Facilitated and coordinated domestic shipments and managed divisional projects
- Responsible for delivering the Profit and Loss report to Branch Management on a weekly basis
Team Leader - Graduate
(Mainfreight Group)
11.2013 - 08.2014
- Developed and trained a team of 4 store staff, enhancing product knowledge, customer service skills, and operational efficiency.
- Built strong relationships with a diverse customer base, driving repeat business and positive brand perception.
- Implemented digital marketing and branding strategies, increasing brand visibility and customer engagement across key channels.
- Conducted market and competitor analysis, delivering actionable reports that informed sales and marketing initiatives.
Education
NCEA Level 1-3 -
Sacred Heart College
Glendowie, AUK11.2008
Head Boarder & College Prefect -
Sacred Heart College
Glendowie, AUK11.2008
University Entrance -
Sacred Heart College
Glendowie, AUK11.2008
Assistant Teacher and Sports Coach -
Ellesmere College
United Kingdom12.2009
Bachelor of Viticulture And Oenology - Business Management And Marketing
Lincoln University
Christchurch, CAN03.2013
Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with individuals at all levels—ranging from frontline staff to executive stakeholders
- Confident, enthusiastic, and adaptable, with a proactive mindset and a genuine eagerness to learn and succeed in dynamic, high-growth environments
- Apply a consultative and supportive approach to leadership and collaboration, fostering positive relationships and building high-performing, cross-functional teams
- Possess solid commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and revenue analysis, underpinned by hands-on experience with tools such as Excel, Power BI, and a range of other business software
- Strong technical capability, able to work across CRM platforms (eg, HubSpot, Salesforce), marketing automation tools, and data analysis environments to drive performance insights and operational improvements
- Skilled at identifying inefficiencies and developing analytical, data-driven solutions that enhance business outcomes and customer experience
- Highly creative and entrepreneurial, continuously seeking opportunities to add value by improving workflows, optimizing processes, and supporting scalable growth strategies
Community Service
Sunday Blessings, Volunteer
Affiliations
- Duke of Edinburgh - Gold Award
- Clevedon Tennis Club - Auckland
- College Rifles Rugby Club - Auckland
Timeline
Business Development Manager
Starshipit
04.2024 - Current
Branch Manager
Mainfreight Metro (Mainfreight Group)
05.2022 - 04.2024
Sales Manager
Daily Freight (Mainfreight Group)
01.2021 - 05.2022
Sales Manager
Chemcouriers (Mainfreight Group)
09.2017 - 12.2020
Account Manager
(Mainfreight Group)
08.2014 - 08.2017
Team Leader - Graduate
(Mainfreight Group)
11.2013 - 08.2014
NCEA Level 1-3 -
Sacred Heart College
Head Boarder & College Prefect -
Sacred Heart College
University Entrance -
Sacred Heart College
Assistant Teacher and Sports Coach -
Ellesmere College
Bachelor of Viticulture And Oenology - Business Management And Marketing
Lincoln University
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