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Name: Beckie Crosbie
Role: Sales Manager
How long in the role? 22 years in Arval’s broker division, 18 in current role
Current drive: Range Rover Evoque hybrid
What route did you take to get to your current role?
I started at college, decided it wasn’t for me and left to get a job. My first ever role was cold calling for Telewest and it was a tough sell as no one wanted cable TV back then! But I worked hard, got promoted and I’ve been in sales ever since.
In my 20s I took a year out to travel solo which was great for my confidence. When I returned, I headed to London and worked in recruitment and then high end fashion sales. I loved the buzz of meetings and the fast paced environment which set me up for my first Arval role.
How has your career at Arval evolved?
I was starting to get burnt out in London when a friend working for Arval told me the business was hiring for a new broker division. My friend encouraged me to go for an interview and I got the role. It was a very steep learning curve initially, with just three of us in the team, but I loved it. Some of those brokers we onboarded back then are still with us and it’s been great to watch those relationships evolve over the years.
I held the office-based Sales Support Exec role for three years supporting the Sales Manager. I was then promoted to Sales Manager for the Midlands which I did for a couple of years. Then I relocated to the North East and took on the North region Sales Manager position which I’ve held for the last 18 years.
What is a typical day as a Sales Manager like?
You can never plan a day working in broking! From the minute you start, whatever you intend to do usually changes! In my role, no two days are ever the same. It’s a combination of supporting brokers, customers, internal sales execs and managing new business. On the new business side I look at manufacturer opportunities, how we can grow, sustain the current fleet and provide better service for customers.
It’s important for me to stay on top of market changes – you need the right cars for your customers, so you need to know what’s new and what sells. I also get involved with wider Arval projects such as our API system which means meetings with our IT and internal teams as well as co-ordinating with brokers.
What’s your working pattern?
I’m usually out on the road a couple times a week and I have a large geography to cover so that means lots of driving. It’s very important to me to visit broker premises and meet the whole team to maintain those relationships, as well as doing joint customer visits with brokers.
Two decades at Arval and counting – what’s the draw for Beckie?
The majority of my colleagues have been at Arval as long as me, or longer, which speaks volumes. There’s a real team spirit, it’s a close community and your colleagues become like family – I’ve been to lots of weddings and baby showers over the years! It’s genuinely a great place to work and I’ve not looked to venture anywhere else.
The support in the team, and particularly the broker team, counts for a lot. I have identical twin daughters as well as a younger daughter and the flexibility has always been there.
I went part time when I had the twins and then restarted full time when my youngest started school. Because I plan my own diary I’ve been able to work around the kids and have a work life balance. It’s easier now my children are getting older and I’m looking forward to my next Arval chapter!
What’s your car history?
My first car was a Peugeot 205 and I then worked very hard to get a baby blue Suzuki Jimny convertible! But as my family expanded, my main focus was finding a car big enough to get a twin pram in! I’m currently driving a hybrid Evoque which is a lovely car.
What changes have you seen in the industry over the years?
One big change is that people have become less precious about vehicle brands – especially post-Covid. In particular, the younger generation are open to all makes and models which really opens up the pathway for new manufacturers.
When I started out, automotive was very male oriented. Over the years broking has evolved and there are more women and they’re making a mark. Many of our sales managers are female and have brilliant relationships with brokers.
Is automotive an attractive sector for women to work in?
Absolutely, although I don’t think automotive necessarily stands out as a career option unless you know people working in it. Broking in particular is a very close knit, supportive community which is ideal when you’re starting out.
Automotive is the best sector to work in. It’s such a fun and inspiring environment that people never leave, so we’re all growing old together! I would encourage anyone, including my daughters, into the industry.
What advice do you have for women looking to enter the industry?
You need to be prepared to put in the hours and build good relationships. There is a lot of opportunity in automotive to grow, so if you’re focused on doing well this is the perfect environment. You get out what you put in – if you go the extra mile, you will absolutely reap the benefits.
About Arval
Arval specialises in full-service vehicle leasing and new mobility solutions, leasing nearly 1.8 million vehicles at the end of December 2024. Arval offers flexible solutions to ensure seamless and sustainable journeys for its customers, ranging from large international corporate groups to smaller companies and individual retail clients. Arval was founded in 1989 and is fully owned by BNP Paribas.
More On Our Women in Broking Series
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Women in Broking is our regular series of features highlighting some of the great women who are so influential in the leasing broker sector – a sector that has been male dominated for too long. The series celebrates the Women in Broking – both those working in brokerages and those working with the broker channel – and hopes to encourage more women to have a successful career in the leasing broker market. If you would like to take part in this series please contact Laura.Lerwill@mortonmedia.co.uk
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Laura is a writer and Head of Marketing for Broker News, with extensive automotive experience from senior marketing roles with RBS/Nat West, Lombard Vehicle Management and Unipart. She is also a self-confessed petrol-head.
