New appointments at Hi-Spec Engineering and Kverneland Ireland

New commercial director at Hi-Spec

Hi-Spec Engineering has appointed Nicky Gill as commercial director. Nicky will be responsible for the company’s commercial function, including key areas of business strategy and performance, as well as sales operations.

Nicky joins Hi-Spec from his most recent role as sales director at Volvo Group UK, with over 25 years’ experience in sales operations and business development.

Hi-Spec managing director Conor Nolan welcomed the appointment: “We’re delighted to have Nicky on board with Hi-Spec.

“This newly created position within the company is testament to our dedication to business growth and commercial development. Nicky brings excellent expertise to the team and we will rely on this as we continue to extend our products and services to new and existing customers.”

Nicky will be based at Hi-Spec’s head office in Co Carlow and will also be supporting the company’s existing customer base throughout its sales regions both nationally and internationally.

Nicky said: “I am delighted to join Hi-Spec. It’s an exciting time, with the recent launch of the new Kompactor trailer range and other new products in the pipeline. I look forward to growing distributors and direct sales in markets throughout Europe,” said Nicky.

New appointments at Kverneland

Allan Hetherington, Co Down, has joined Kverneland after 13 years with machinery dealer Alan Milne Tractors as a sales representative. Allan had been responsible for the sales of eight different brands, including the Kverneland range.

He is looking forward to learning more about the Irish market and gaining ground with the Kverneland name in the area north of Dublin to Donegal as area sales manager and helping to promote and sell all the Kverneland branded machines in both tillage and forage sectors.

Leonard Hovenden joins the sales team at Kverneland Ireland as sales support and product specialist.

Leonard comes from a farming background in Ballylinan, Co Laois. After qualifying from Harper Adams University with an honours degree in agricultural engineering, he joined New Holland (NH) in Basildon, England, as a combine harvester technical instructor, along with undertaking combine harvester demonstration work.

He spent six years with NH, after which he travelled to Australia where he worked with machinery on large-scale farming operations.

On returning to Ireland in 2011, he joined JR Perry Ltd, Athy, Co Kildare, as a sales executive selling a full range of various different machinery lines.