Bill James

Born in South Africa and raised in England, Bill emigrated to NZ. Having achieved his B.Com with a double major in marketing and personnel, Bill started a long and successful career as a sales professional. Bill’s early years included selling cars, advertising and door to door sales. Moving into finance, a short stay with AGC was followed by National New Business Manager at Nathan Finance and the position of Finance Manager for Nissan New Zealand.

Tempted into the corporate world at South Pacific Securities as Assistant to the GM he implemented a complete e-based sales program a decade before it was the norm. He then worked as National Sales Manager and later Operations Manager for Multicorp Insurances at age 26. Here he ran all departments, negotiated multimillion dollar contracts and helped create new records in sales. Following the 1987 crash, Bill held the following roles:

· Top sales advisor for National Insurance
· Assistant to the GM of National Pacific Securities
· Contract financial controller for the Giltrap Motor Group – South Auckland division (5 dealerships)

As Branch Manager of a branch of the PSIS, Bill quadrupled the size of the branch in 4 years with no money spent on advertising – word of mouth and customer service only. In 1991 Prudential Assurance recruited Bill and he became their ‘Rookie of the Year’ achieving 430% of his initial target.

Bill has been training for over 20 years. An internationally recognized prize winning speaker, trainer and facilitator, Bill has proven his referral marketing ideas across a wide range of industries while specialising in the service industries especially finance and insurance. He now speaks, trains and facilitates to a variety of companies; assisting companies innovate effective new business generation tools and systems. He is known as ‘The Smart Business Maker’ and has created many success stories for clients often increasing client’s new business generation results by over 300%.

His experience now sees him in demand within the training industry, often being asked to consult and deliver to sales training organisations, replacing their existing delivery with his in a bid to increase the quality of their delivery to clients. His style motivates audiences wherever he goes as he unravels and simplifies the mysteries of referral and networking magic. ‘Word of mouth is the most powerful and yet simplest way to reach the key people around you and have them welcome you with open arms’.

Bill says a great opening address sets the scene for the whole conference. A powerful close with an action plan sends participants away motivated and ready to act.