John Harrison, UK Managing Director and Global VP of Marketing at Schaffner, a global company specialising in providing solutions for EMC and power quality, joins the latest episode of the Marketing B2B Technology podcast. In the episode, John discusses the challenges and benefits of balancing two job roles and emphasises the importance of aligning sales and marketing to strengthen the brand and drive sales. He believes in leading with a forward thinking approach, understanding customer needs, and staying ahead of industry trends, particularly in the niche area of EMC. About Schaffner Schaffner plays a vital role in building a sustainable future in the new era of electrification. Headquartered in Switzerland and with subsidiaries around the world, Schaffner is a global leader in electromagnetic solutions that ensure the efficient and reliable operation of electronic systems. The Schaffner Group are experts in EMC filter solutions, harmonic filters, electromagnetic components and electromagnetic solutions. Our passionate and knowledgeable employees empower our customers to develop reliable electronic devices and systems that meet compliance standards and deliver increased energy efficiency. This is how we deliver… MORE POWER TO YOU. About John Harrison John Harrison joined Schaffner in April 2022. He is the UK MD and Global VP Marketing. He has spent 25 years in the electronics industry primarily within the connector space for Molex. John has extensive international experience having lived and worked across Europe and the US, covering a range of markets from Industrial to transportation. His most recent experience prior to Schaffner was within the IOT space for Ramtech heading up their Global Marketing and Sales activities. John is passionate about EV and increasing speed of adoption across the globe. Time Stamps [00:43:0] – John provides some background to his career. [03:30.8] – John discusses how he manages the demands of both the UK Managing Director role and Global VP of Marketing role. [05:04:7] – John shares his views on whether he thinks marketing and sales should be closer together or not. [06:05:2] – John talks about what he’s looking for from marketing to make the role of MD more successful. [13:38:9] – John shares his approach of trying to get salespeople, marketing people and engineers working more closely. [19:31:0] – John talks about how he sees his role changing with technology over the next five years. [20:49:1] – John shares some advice to those looking to get into marketing. Quotes “Marketing and sales need to be closer together. The ultimate aim for both is to drive more customers and value for the brand. We need to focus on the customer’s needs, whether it’s through direct interaction or brand messaging.” John Harrison, UK Managing Director and Global VP of Marketing at Schaffner. “From a sales perspective, it’s not just about leads. It’s about ensuring the brand is seen as a partner and thought leader, especially in specialised areas like EMC.” John Harrison, UK Managing Director and Global VP of Marketing at Schaffner. “It’s crucial to put yourself in the customer’s shoes. If a piece of marketing material doesn’t resonate with the customer, it’s not effective. Marketing should be about creating content that truly addresses the customer’s needs.” John Harrison, UK Managing Director and Global VP of Marketing at Schaffner Follow John: John Harrison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-harrison-3552ba14/ Schaffner website: https://www.schaffner.com/ Schaffner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schaffner-gruppe/ Follow Mike: Mike Maynard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/ Napier website: https://www.napierb2b.com/ Napier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/napier-partnership-limited/ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more discussions about the latest in Marketing B2B Tech and connect with us on social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes. We'd also appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Want more? Check out Napier’s other podcast - The Marketing Automation Moment: https://podcasts.apple.com/ua/podcast/the-marketing-automation-moment-podcast/id1659211547
