Tomra appoints sales directors for Asia, China

WITH strong sales growth in Asia, Tomra has made a decision to split the sales director responsibility between Sean Slevin and Steven Van Geel. The company has appointed Mr Slevin to focus on supporting customers and building the organisation’s capability in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and India, whilst Mr Van Geel will be sales director for China, where he will relocate and continue to develop the sales and customer support activities, including service, application development, and the company’s test and demonstration center.

TOMRA, a leading provider of sensor-based sorting and processing systems for the fresh and processed food industries, has been developing state-of-the-art technologies for more than 30 years. The company aims to intensify investment in Asia where it currently offers sorting and peeling solutions for potatoes, nuts and seeds, fruit, beans and fresh and processed vegetables. It has existing facilities near Tokyo in Japan a shared site near Seoul, South Korea, and premises in Bangalore, India, opened earlier this year. Service and sales support is based at all these locations and there are test and demonstration facilities in Korea and Japan. The China operation also offers service support and test and demonstration capability.   

“Asia is a huge, dynamic and fast moving region, made up of markets with different requirements. It’s far from homogenised and our challenge is to address current and future needs head on,” said Mr Slevin. “We want to be part of the Asian success. We’re already experiencing huge growth in the region and now, as we become more local and aware, we need to refine our focus, and this is an investment in that commitment.

A highly experienced sales, marketing and business development professional, Mr Slevin entered the food sorting systems industry in July 2007, when he joined ODENBERG as group marketing and business development manager. There, his responsibilities included strategic global marketing, key account management, business development and international sales growth. He began focusing on the Asian market after Tomra acquired Odenberg in late 2011.