Reaching out.
Before joining Lavastica in 2022, Marcel had already built extensive experience in the maritime supply industry. He worked in logistics, prepared customs documentation, spare parts logistics and later spent almost nine years in sales. After becoming a father, spending hours in traffic every day simply no longer felt worth it.
Looking for a better work-life balance, he uploaded his CV. Lavastica reached out almost immediately. "I uploaded my CV, Lavastica contacted me, and after one interview everything moved quickly."
One region, countless customers.
Marcel is responsible for one of Lavastica's largest sales regions, covering Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. It is an enormous territory with customers from many different backgrounds, yet Marcel believes the key to building strong relationships remains surprisingly simple.
"People are people. Whether they're in Africa or the Middle East, I believe in being reliable, responding quickly and keeping your promises." That straightforward approach has helped Marcel build long-term relationships with customers throughout his region. Every quotation presents a new challenge and every customer has different needs, which is exactly what keeps the job interesting.
A broad maritime background.
Although Marcel now works in sales, his years in logistics still prove valuable every day. "I've worked in logistics, customs and sales. That broad experience helps because I understand what happens before and after a quotation. I've also built a large network over the years, so I often know exactly who to contact when customers need something specific."
His experience allows him to think beyond the quotation itself and quickly find practical solutions when customers need them.
Trust goes both ways.
One of the biggest differences Marcel noticed after joining Lavastica was the amount of flexibility and trust employees receive.
"When something comes up at home, nobody makes it difficult. If I need to work from home because of my children or another appointment, that's never a problem. There is a lot of trust here. If you work hard and deliver results, you're given a lot of freedom." For Marcel, that balance is one of the reasons he enjoys working at Lavastica. The flexibility allows him to combine a demanding international role with family life at home.
Always aiming for the next big project.
Sales is what motivates Marcel most. "I like winning new business. Of course, every order is nice, but the really large projects are what you work towards." Large projects don't come around every week, but when they do, they make all the hard work worthwhile.
Marcel also hopes to spend more time visiting customers abroad again.
Family life currently makes frequent travel a little more challenging, but the opportunities are certainly there. "If I wanted to, I could travel every month. Next year I hope to visit customers abroad more often again."
Away from the office.
Outside work, Marcel's life revolves around his young family. With two children at home, his days start early and are usually fully planned. Whenever he finds a little time for himself, you'll most likely find him watching football or rugby, playing video games or enjoying a good film.
Recently, he has also started collecting vinyl records again “I tried to DJ back in 2004 with vinyl records, but living in parental house made practicing nearly impossible due to complains. The only thing that's still missing now," he laughs, "is the record player."
European Head Office
Vareseweg 45
The Netherlands
+31 10 265 5070
Asian Office
Star Avenue 5, 169/105
San Phak Wan
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Thailand
Our team.
Our team is a dedicated group of professionals with years of experience in the
maritime industry and industrial industry.
Our sales team is committed to provide you with the best possible service.
“Whether you are looking for a single piece of equipment or a complete solution,
we have the expertise and resources to meet your needs.”
Our technical support team has deep technical expertise and experience. The
service team is available to answer any questions and provide guidance on the
use and maintenance of our products.
“We provide expert advice to ensure that you get the most out of your equipment.”
Our logistics team is responsible for coordinating the delivery of our products to
customers all over the world. They make sure that shipments are delivered on
time and in perfect condition.
“We understand the importance of timely delivery and strive to ensure that all
orders are fulfilled as quickly as possible.”
