Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

JOHN PIO

Tauranga,Hamilton

Summary

Business development professional with a strong record in new business acquisition and relationship management. Proven ability to grow client bases in various agricultural sectors through effective networking and competitor analysis. Recognized for adaptability and interpersonal skills that enhance team collaboration and client engagement. Focused on expanding market reach and driving product sales while establishing long-term partnerships.

Overview

37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Business Development Manager

DOM Distribution
Brisbane, Australia
02.2025 - Current
  • Participate in weekly meetings with executive leadership team members to discuss progress toward goals.
  • Attend tradeshows and conferences to network with potential clients.
  • Analyze customer feedback to identify areas for improvement in products and services offered.
  • Develop strategies to increase sales and market share.

Business Development Manager

Monk & Son
, Australia
07.2024 - 01.2025
  • Short term contract
  • Extensive road travel across Victoria, NSW and Queensland to identify potential clients, build relationships, and negotiate contracts.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams including marketing, operations, finance.
  • Generated leads and capitalised on valuable business opportunities to bring in new company revenue and improve bottom line profit.
  • Maintained open and ongoing communication with clients to meet needs and expectations.
  • Leveraged cold calling, in-person visits and referrals to build leads.
  • Represented the company at industry conferences, networking events, and trade shows to build brand awareness.

General Manager

Irvines Day Old Chicks
, Zimbabwe
11.2023 - 01.2024
  • 3 month contract
  • Overall day to day running of the farm and cattle
  • Provision of water for the chickens and ensuring manure removal

National Sales Manager

Strautmann Hopkins
03.2020 - 04.2023
  • Built relationships with key clients through regular contact.
  • Attended industry events to build brand recognition and establish contacts.
  • Maintained active sales contacts with assigned accounts to keep communication open and capture consistent revenue.
  • Used cold calling and networking to sell products and services.
  • Monitored market trends, competitor activities, and product developments to adjust sales strategies accordingly.
  • Acted as a liaison between the customer and cross-functional internal teams.
  • Identified and targeted new business opportunities through market research and analysis.

Operations Manager

Blue Grass Contracting
11.2019 - 02.2020
  • Connected with clients and developed strategies to achieve sales and customer service goals.
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors and service providers, securing favorable terms.
  • Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers in conversation and effectively determine needs and requirements.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with potential clients to identify new sales opportunities.

Customer Relations/Sales Representative

Gavins Ltd
12 Month Contract
09.2018 - 10.2019
  • Developed and maintained relationships with existing clients to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Generated new sales leads through cold calling and networking activities.
  • Conducted market research to identify potential customers and their needs.
  • Organised client visits, presentations, product demonstrations, and trade shows.

Marketing Manager - Vet Tech & Sales

Global Veterinary Services
12 Month Contract
10.2017 - 08.2018
  • Maintained relationships with key customers through regular communication.
  • Built relationships with influencers in the industry for increased visibility.
  • Worked with management team to oversee and monitor marketing strategy.
  • Prepared and sent proposals to prospective clients.
  • Represented company at local and trade association meetings to promote products.

Sales Specialist

James & Son
6 Month Contract
04.2017 - 09.2017
  • Sales of a range of by-product feed ingredients into the dairy, pig and beef industry.
  • Procurement of Macro and Micro minerals to be added in the various blends.
  • Attended National Field Days and Trade Seminars related to the stockfeed industry.

Territory Manager & Calf Nutrition Specialist

Agritrade NZ/Agrifeeds NZ (PGG Wrightson)
08.2013 - 03.2017
  • Selling a range of nutritional supplements to a varied customer base, including farmers, feed mills, vet practices, and retail merchants. This required a high degree of technical competency: RumenX calf meal, Animax Mineral Boluses, Zinc time Capsules, Magnesium, and DCP.
  • Agricultural chemicals were added to the portfolio: Roundup (Glyphosate), Tropotox, surfactants, and adjuvants.
  • VETMED (Nexan Corporation Ltd) is a range of Anthelmintic drenches (including Flumethrin) for the control of internal and external parasites. It is distributed through veterinary practices and PGG Wrightson.
  • Coordinated trade shows, National Field Days, and other promotional events to raise brand awareness in the territory.
  • Negotiated contracts with new clients while maintaining existing business relationships.
  • Ensured compliance with company policies regarding pricing, promotions, warranties, returns.
  • Created presentations for potential customers, highlighting product features and benefits.
  • Monitored competitor activities in the region to ensure competitive advantage.

Tech Sales Rep - North Island

Alltech NZ
02.2011 - 07.2013
  • Generated new sales leads through cold calling and networking activities for high-value micronutritional supplements, requiring a high degree of technical competency.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with existing clients to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Organised and manned trade show stands and events across New Zealand: National Field Days, National Dairy & Beef Expos, and equestrian events, ie, Horse of the Year, Polo, and Polocrosse.
  • Attended training in Ruminant Nutrition and Fermentation, Dairy Production Systems.
  • Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers in conversation, effectively determine needs, requirements, and referrals.

Contract Employer

Corson NZ (Transition to PGG Wrightson)
09.2010 - 12.2010
  • Contracted to assist with the sales and support of the maize seed products for the planting season, prior to the transition to PGG Wrightson.
  • Involvement in farm trials with other maize seed brands, ie, Pioneer, Pacific, and HSR.

National Sales Manager

Keenan NZ (REL - Rakaia Engineering Ltd)
10.2008 - 07.2010
  • Achieved high level of sales from first contact through to delivery and after sales service.
  • Worked with a team to achieve customer satisfaction through nutritional advice and support and mechanical backup.
  • Implemented a CRM system that improved tracking of leads, customers, and order fulfillment times.
  • Participated in industry events such as trade shows, National Field Days and NZ dairy and beef events in order to promote products and services.
  • Hosted customers in travel and participation to Dairy Week in Shepparton and the Elsmore Show and Beef Week in Rockhampton which developed high customer satisfaction and referrals resulting in sales.
  • Represented REL as Agent for their range of WESTEEL Silos and Westfield & Wheatheart Augers - grain storage, handling and drying equipment.

NZ Sales Manager

Agnet Equipment
, Auckland
04.2007 - 10.2008
  • Established relationships with key clients, while maintaining existing customer base.
  • Monitored industry trends and competitor activities to stay ahead of the competition resulting in exceeding my budget of Seko mixer wagons in the short time I was with Agnet.
  • Worked with a team to import, assemble and deliver sold machines.
  • Implemented a service and backup contract to deliver a better outcome to our customer base.
  • Portfolio also included other machinery, ie Vermeer balers, mowers, rakes, rock pickers and straw blowers; The LandPride range from the USA; Meyer muckspreaders from the USA; the Alamo & Noremat reach mowers from France.

Stud Farm Manager

Big River Hereford Stud
, Hamilton
01.2005 - 03.2007
  • Developed long-term strategies for increasing efficiency while reducing overhead costs associated with running the farm business.
  • Coordinated the maintenance of farm equipment, machinery, buildings, fences, and other infrastructure.
  • Provided guidance to staff members on how best to handle difficult tasks or situations encountered during their daily duties.
  • Inspected facilities regularly to ensure they meet safety standards and are properly maintained.

Farm Manager

Taupiri Holdings Ltd
, Raglan
12.2003 - 12.2004
  • Arrived in New Zealand from Zimbabwe

Butchery Business Owner

Trelawney Butchery
, Zimbabwe
12.2002 - 12.2003
  • Slaughtering own cattle for local market.

Farm Owner

Kutama Farm
, Zimbabwe
12.1994 - 12.2002
  • Mixed cropping - tobacco, maize, groundnuts, and Katambora pastures on a rotational cropping system. Animal husbandry - commercial cows and calf herd, pen-fattening steers, heifers, and empty cows for the local abattoir.
  • Animal husbandry - commercial cows and calf herd, pen-fattening steers, heifers, and empty cows for the local abattoir.

Farm Manager

Harefield Farm and Kutama Farm
, Zimbabwe
01.1991 - 12.1994
  • As above

Assistant Farm Manager

Harefield Farm
, Zimbabwe
01.1989 - 01.1991
  • As above

Education

High School Diploma -

Prince Edward High School
Zimbabwe

Skills

  • New business acquisition
  • Networking skills
  • Competitive analysis
  • Product sales
  • Relationship management
  • Sales proficiency
  • Business development

Affiliations

  • Extensive sports involvement in Rugby/Athletics/Tennis/Squash/Boating/Water skiing/Fishing/Hunting/Polocrosse
  • Enjoy hiking, biking, gym, travel

Accomplishments

  • Full Colours in Athletics & Rugby - Zimbabwe Schools National Team
  • Half Colours - Tennis & Squash
  • First Team - Athletics/Rugby/Tennis/Squash

Certification

  • Animal Breeders Certificate (2001)
  • Associate Member of the NZARN (New Zealand Association of Ruminant Nutritionists)

Languages

English

Afrikaans

Shona

Timeline

Business Development Manager

DOM Distribution
02.2025 - Current

Business Development Manager

Monk & Son
07.2024 - 01.2025

General Manager

Irvines Day Old Chicks
11.2023 - 01.2024

National Sales Manager

Strautmann Hopkins
03.2020 - 04.2023

Operations Manager

Blue Grass Contracting
11.2019 - 02.2020

Customer Relations/Sales Representative

Gavins Ltd
09.2018 - 10.2019

Marketing Manager - Vet Tech & Sales

Global Veterinary Services
10.2017 - 08.2018

Sales Specialist

James & Son
04.2017 - 09.2017

Territory Manager & Calf Nutrition Specialist

Agritrade NZ/Agrifeeds NZ (PGG Wrightson)
08.2013 - 03.2017

Tech Sales Rep - North Island

Alltech NZ
02.2011 - 07.2013

Contract Employer

Corson NZ (Transition to PGG Wrightson)
09.2010 - 12.2010

National Sales Manager

Keenan NZ (REL - Rakaia Engineering Ltd)
10.2008 - 07.2010

NZ Sales Manager

Agnet Equipment
04.2007 - 10.2008

Stud Farm Manager

Big River Hereford Stud
01.2005 - 03.2007

Farm Manager

Taupiri Holdings Ltd
12.2003 - 12.2004

Butchery Business Owner

Trelawney Butchery
12.2002 - 12.2003

Farm Owner

Kutama Farm
12.1994 - 12.2002

Farm Manager

Harefield Farm and Kutama Farm
01.1991 - 12.1994

Assistant Farm Manager

Harefield Farm
01.1989 - 01.1991

High School Diploma -

Prince Edward High School

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