Thriving in a challenging and changing market - ECN Interview
Carly Wills speaks to Carl Jones, President Cable Management and Protection (International) at Atkore, about life at the company.
CW: Tell us about yourself and how you got into the sector.
CJ: I’ve been in the sector for around 14 years, and prior to that I was in industrial ceramics. I started off in automotive, working in operations, and became General Manager at the age of 30. I then decided to leave automotive as I wanted to deal more closely with customers, so I moved to a company called Morgan Ceramics. I then wanted to prove to myself that I could replicate my initial success, so I joined Atkore, which had just been formed at the time, and within 12 months I was made Managing Director.
The challenge of dealing with people from different cultures around the world is something I really enjoy about my job. I also take real satisfaction from nurturing talent – it’s helped me become a better leader and allows me more time to focus on strategy and growing the business.
CW: For those who may not know, can you give us an overview of the work that Atkore does?
CJ: We supply a large portfolio of products for the electrical sectors of the construction industry. We do this through electrical wholesale and distribution outlets across the globe, and we deal directly with end-customers within vertical markets like data centres, semiconductors, electrical infrastructure, and more. We manufacture all of our products and supply to 87 countries.
One of our biggest focuses is renewable energy, which forms a key part of our strategy. For example, all of our new plants use solar panels, we reuse energy within our business, and our sales teams are moving towards electric cars.
CW: Tell us about your current role – what are you responsible for and what does the
normal working day consist of?
CJ: It’s certainly not a regular 9-5.30! For example, because of the different time-zones, I could be having a discussion very early in the morning with my New Zealand business, and then a very late call on a Sunday with my Israeli business. Monday mornings are generally the same for me, as they involve looking at all the economic exchanges across the world. I have to convert the currency into dollars and back into local currency and it changes every day, so it’s usually quite hectic! Apart from that, there’s no typical day – and that’s the most exciting part of the job for me. I relish the way my job constantly poses new challenges.
CW: What are the best things about your role? What are the most challenging?
CJ: The best thing is dealing with the diverse markets and the different customers we have. The biggest challenge is probably the volatility of the world situation these days – by which I mean the many changes happening relating to war, inflation, and economic issues. There’s a real lack of stability in the market now and that’s something that’s challenging but ultimately rewarding when we work together as a team to manage our way through it.
CW: How has COVID-19 affected the industry? What are the positives to come from the pandemic?
CJ: The pandemic was terrible, but in some ways, construction probably benefitted from it. It made the industry stronger because it showed businesses their weaknesses and forced them to look at their processes more. It also proved that you can have people working efficiently from home. However, I do think people need to spend time in the office. The camaraderie and human interaction are things we all benefit from.
CW: Aside from COVID-19, what have been the biggest changes across the industry in recent times? What will be the biggest changes in the future?
CJ: The biggest challenges in the industry right now are ensuring we’re doing everything we can to be sustainable; attracting younger people into the industry and making sure they’re as diverse as possible; and weathering the current economic climate.
CW: What’s next for you and for Atkore?
CJ: Atkore is performing very well and we’ll continue to invest in acquisitions and grow our business from a top line and bottom-line perspective. As part of that, I’ll continue to help us grow into new vertical markets as well as developing the team to make sure we’ve got strong talent coming through. And hopefully we’ll have a bit of fun along the way!
CW: Do you have any career advice for anyone starting out in the industry?
CJ: My advice would be that there’s no rush. Take the time to find what’s right for you by learning different aspects of different positions. Don’t fix yourself in one position as this can mean you get pigeonholed. Finally, make sure you’re digitally savvy, but remember – relationships are still vital.
CW: What do you think are the most exciting products or technologies coming to the market?
CJ: The market is changing and moving in the direction of prefabrication. This reduces time on site, increases quality levels, and speeds up delivery. An example of this is our new Atkore Unistrut Aisle Containment System, which provides a fast and efficient means to manage heat dissipation. Benefitting from off-site manufacturing, every component part is precision cut and undergoes rigorous quality control to deliver a simple on-site installation. We’re also going to see a continuation of the trend for new products from new materials. The age of galvanising will fade and new materials will replace it that are aesthetically better, environmentally better, and last longer. Finally, digitisation will continue to grow and infiltrate every area of the industry.
CW: What are your interests away from work?
CJ: Like anyone, there’s a point when I have to release the pressure, and that often means walking the dog on the beach or watching a movie. I’m also in the gym every morning at 6am. It’s always been a hobby of mine, even when travelling. It gives me real peace of mind before my day starts.
- end of interview -
Article credits: https://issuu.com/atmltd/docs/ecn_may2023_opt/24
CW: Tell us about yourself and how you got into the sector.
CJ: I’ve been in the sector for around 14 years, and prior to that I was in industrial ceramics. I started off in automotive, working in operations, and became General Manager at the age of 30. I then decided to leave automotive as I wanted to deal more closely with customers, so I moved to a company called Morgan Ceramics. I then wanted to prove to myself that I could replicate my initial success, so I joined Atkore, which had just been formed at the time, and within 12 months I was made Managing Director.
The challenge of dealing with people from different cultures around the world is something I really enjoy about my job. I also take real satisfaction from nurturing talent – it’s helped me become a better leader and allows me more time to focus on strategy and growing the business.
CW: For those who may not know, can you give us an overview of the work that Atkore does?
CJ: We supply a large portfolio of products for the electrical sectors of the construction industry. We do this through electrical wholesale and distribution outlets across the globe, and we deal directly with end-customers within vertical markets like data centres, semiconductors, electrical infrastructure, and more. We manufacture all of our products and supply to 87 countries.
One of our biggest focuses is renewable energy, which forms a key part of our strategy. For example, all of our new plants use solar panels, we reuse energy within our business, and our sales teams are moving towards electric cars.
CW: Tell us about your current role – what are you responsible for and what does the
normal working day consist of?
CJ: It’s certainly not a regular 9-5.30! For example, because of the different time-zones, I could be having a discussion very early in the morning with my New Zealand business, and then a very late call on a Sunday with my Israeli business. Monday mornings are generally the same for me, as they involve looking at all the economic exchanges across the world. I have to convert the currency into dollars and back into local currency and it changes every day, so it’s usually quite hectic! Apart from that, there’s no typical day – and that’s the most exciting part of the job for me. I relish the way my job constantly poses new challenges.
CW: What are the best things about your role? What are the most challenging?
CJ: The best thing is dealing with the diverse markets and the different customers we have. The biggest challenge is probably the volatility of the world situation these days – by which I mean the many changes happening relating to war, inflation, and economic issues. There’s a real lack of stability in the market now and that’s something that’s challenging but ultimately rewarding when we work together as a team to manage our way through it.
CW: How has COVID-19 affected the industry? What are the positives to come from the pandemic?
CJ: The pandemic was terrible, but in some ways, construction probably benefitted from it. It made the industry stronger because it showed businesses their weaknesses and forced them to look at their processes more. It also proved that you can have people working efficiently from home. However, I do think people need to spend time in the office. The camaraderie and human interaction are things we all benefit from.
CW: Aside from COVID-19, what have been the biggest changes across the industry in recent times? What will be the biggest changes in the future?
CJ: The biggest challenges in the industry right now are ensuring we’re doing everything we can to be sustainable; attracting younger people into the industry and making sure they’re as diverse as possible; and weathering the current economic climate.
CW: What’s next for you and for Atkore?
CJ: Atkore is performing very well and we’ll continue to invest in acquisitions and grow our business from a top line and bottom-line perspective. As part of that, I’ll continue to help us grow into new vertical markets as well as developing the team to make sure we’ve got strong talent coming through. And hopefully we’ll have a bit of fun along the way!
CW: Do you have any career advice for anyone starting out in the industry?
CJ: My advice would be that there’s no rush. Take the time to find what’s right for you by learning different aspects of different positions. Don’t fix yourself in one position as this can mean you get pigeonholed. Finally, make sure you’re digitally savvy, but remember – relationships are still vital.
CW: What do you think are the most exciting products or technologies coming to the market?
CJ: The market is changing and moving in the direction of prefabrication. This reduces time on site, increases quality levels, and speeds up delivery. An example of this is our new Atkore Unistrut Aisle Containment System, which provides a fast and efficient means to manage heat dissipation. Benefitting from off-site manufacturing, every component part is precision cut and undergoes rigorous quality control to deliver a simple on-site installation. We’re also going to see a continuation of the trend for new products from new materials. The age of galvanising will fade and new materials will replace it that are aesthetically better, environmentally better, and last longer. Finally, digitisation will continue to grow and infiltrate every area of the industry.
CW: What are your interests away from work?
CJ: Like anyone, there’s a point when I have to release the pressure, and that often means walking the dog on the beach or watching a movie. I’m also in the gym every morning at 6am. It’s always been a hobby of mine, even when travelling. It gives me real peace of mind before my day starts.
- end of interview -
Article credits: https://issuu.com/atmltd/docs/ecn_may2023_opt/24