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Food Testing >> News >> Incoming GM promises focus on customer service at food testing HQ

Incoming GM promises focus on customer service at food testing HQ

Jez Smith

Eurofins Food and Water Testing UK and Ireland has announced the appointment of Jez Smith as General Manager of its Wolverhampton headquarters.

Jez will take over the reins at the company’s largest site, and joins from Synlab where he was UK Managing Director responsible for three laboratories undertaking oil, food and feed testing.

With over 32 years experience in the laboratory sector, Jez spent 15 years at ALcontrol where he held roles including Commercial Manager, Operations Manager and more recently Operations Director.

The Wolverhampton laboratories are among the busiest of the Eurofins Food and Water Testing sites, serving clients from across the country and boasting large microbiology and chemistry testing facilities.

Outlining his priorities for the coming months, Jez said there would be a focus on ensuring that a strong management structure was in place to enable the company’s ambitious growth plans. He added that previous management experience would be put to use in achieving his early objectives.

“I will be leaning on my experience to bring about and manage an increased turnover, recognising that there will be growing pains but responding accordingly and decisively.

“We then need to further reinforce a customer service culture so we will carry out some wider work here on staff engagement and customer focus.

“We have world-class strengths among the team here and do some fantastic technical work. Our people work extremely hard, and there’s an opportunity to do more to inform the customer of the quality of work they’re receiving.

“Customer service needs to be front and centre of everything we do at Wolverhampton, across every department, even down to the bench carrying out a simple PH test; that person needs to understand the true impact of their role.

“It’s an exciting challenge, but I also fully recognise that taking a business this size on a journey of growth is no small undertaking.”

Phil Coles, Managing Director of Eurofins Food Testing UK and Ireland, said: “I am extremely excited that Jez has joined, and his appointment will continue to strengthen the management capability of our business.

“His appointment and his immediate priorities are deliberate in order to meet and exceed our clients’ requirements going forward and to meet our ambitious growth objectives.”

Published: 21 November 2018