Bruno Da Ros – Key Account Manager

Welcome to John Hogg’s Meet the Team episode 6, where we look to share some interesting facts and stories about our amazing employees.

This week we are looking at our Key Account Manager, Bruno Da Ros, about his adventurous life as a musician growing up in Brazil, and his bold move to the UK at the age of 25.

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Bruno Da Ros, and I come from an Italian family based in Sao Paulo in Brazil. I always thought that to get anywhere in this world you need to learn English. True to my belief in immersion as the best learning method, I relocated to the UK at 25 to fully experience the culture first-hand. Fast forward 15 years, and that temporary adventure has turned into my normal life and home.

Tell us a little about your role at John Hogg

I am a key account manager at John Hogg, my role spans across Latin America sales and beyond, primarily focusing on fuel markers but also dealing with fuel dyes. My mission is to unearth opportunities and nurture them into long-lasting, mutually beneficial business relationships.

How long have you been a part of the John Hogg team?

I have been a part of the John Hogg team now for nearly 2 years! I can’t believe it went this quickly, there’s still so much to learn. The camaraderie and playful banter with the team have made me feel like I’ve been here for ages.

What was your first ever job?

For my first job I was a musician… I used to be a bass guitar player as a ‘sideman’ for artists at small gigs in Sao Paulo. In my teenage plans, I envisioned that something like Bon Jovi’s job would do for me. I was okay with the idea of being mega famous, wealthy, and having my poster hanging on every girl’s bedroom wall. In the real world, it turned out I was up at 6am in some bar/venue that was far away from home, hungry and needing a shower. I was always patiently waiting for the bar to close the register so I could get paid ‘peanuts’, barely enough and go back home or to buy new strings for my instrument…

It was painful and very different from what I had planned. As my mother used to say, “Not all that shines is a diamond”. I had to work with music for a little while before I soon realised that going pro was not my bag. Nowadays I’m more of a hobbyist musician, moving away from it all as adulthood responsibilities hit. Nevertheless, when I’m at home I’ll always be a few meters away from an acoustic guitar or a piano.

Did you attend University? If so, what did you study?

I attended university doing marketing and advertising, but I did not end up finishing. The reason I wanted to do advertising was that I saw it as an opportunity for a next step of my music career. At this time in my life, I was working as a free-lancer, recording & composing jingles and short soundtracks for local radio and TV. In my understanding at the time, I’d need a degree in advertisement if I wanted to solidify a career in that industry.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing outside of work?

As you could guess, music is one of my biggest passions. But if I was to chose something else it would be football. I play football each Thursday, I am goalkeeper. I think it’s one of those things when you can’t run, they put you in goal. I love to play but I’m not very good at it…

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would it be and why?

Of the places that I haven’t had the chance of visiting already. Culturally, Japan looks incredible to explore. Scenic wise, the Caribbean is probably where I’d like to rest in a paradisiac beach.

Do you have a favourite sports team?

Football is important to me, I have a “trident” of teams that I support:

AC Milan – My childhood team from my Italian family. My father is a massive Juventus fan, but my uncle is a big AC Milan fan. My father had indoctrinated my uncle’s daughters to Juventus fans when they were children. So, to get his revenge, the first thing that my uncle did after meeting me, was to put an AC Milan shirt on me with the number 9, Van Basten. I loved that shirt and I have been a fan ever since.

Sao Paulo – This is my Local Brazilian team and the first team I truly supported. It is sometimes very difficult to follow Sao Paolo due to different time-zones. But I still follow it religiously.

Manchester United – Since moving to the UK, I have been made a Manchester United fan. When I first moved, I didn’t know how big they were! Of course, I knew some of the history, but it was my English best friend that I lived with who converted me. He had always supported them and offered to take me to the home games when he could get tickets.

What would you say is your greatest personal accomplishment?

Moving to the UK with minimal savings was a bold move. Upon arrival, my grasp of English was poor at best, and with no local contacts, the initial days were difficult… I managed to learn English the hard way, and embraced every job opportunity that came my way. Starting as a waiter and barman, I gradually climbed the career ladder through roles in customer service, export sales, technical sales, and eventually to senior sales engineer before John Hogg. It’s nice to lookback and see how it all unfolded. What began with serving wine in a quaint Italian restaurant in London has turned into discussing key business deals with top executives of massive oil corporations in Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires.

Which book or a movie has left a lasting impact on you?

Movie it would be Interstellar; I’m a fan of Christopher Nolan’s works in general.
Book wise, it would for sure be Homo Deus by Harari. It’s deep stuff, how mankind transitions from creatures to creators. If you read Sapiens, you must read Homo Deus.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Oh, that’s an easy one! Tagliatelle al ragù is my go-to choice. It’s essentially what your “spag-bol” aspires to be when it’s prepared the authentic Italian way.

What is your greatest fear?

I am very claustrophobic! I hate the idea of cave diving or other activities which require being stuck in a small space.

Your GOAT music artist?

Hard to choose. Deep Purple is a lifetime passion but more recently I’ve started appreciating the jazz of Wes Montgomery.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be?

Emperor Constantine II. I’d love to ask him very specific questions about his thinking process behind adopting Christianism as the official religion in Rome and debate on how that decision affected the course of history.

If they had to be living, it would be Prof. Richard Dawkins, I read most of his books about biological evolution and human beliefs

If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?

Overthinker, Placid, Cynic. I think these are traits that define my reflective and occasionally sceptical nature.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The sense of doing something positive in a large scale, having that impact on such a big global operation. Thinking all that fuel across the world that is being used, I might have had some sort of stake in it.

What’s an important lesson you’ve learned while working at John Hogg?

“Measure twice, cut once”. In other words; preparation, thorough analysis, and robust discussion making prior to taking decisive action. In sales, there’s a compelling urge to continuously chase deals, which can sometimes dilute your efforts, leading to fruitless endeavours. It is crucial to approach every task with a strategic plan and a clear purpose. Being selective and intentional in our actions is essential for achieving meaningful and successful outcomes.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new team members to succeed within our company culture?

Voice your thoughts, as your insights are not only welcomed but valued. At John Hogg, we thrive on collaboration, and remaining silent is a missed opportunity. We’re encouraged to speak up, share our perspectives, and contribute to our collective success. Stay engaged and communicate openly with everyone.

Finally; In your opinion, what sets John Hogg apart as an employer?

Shortly after joining John Hogg, I faced the personal tragedy of losing my father. During this challenging time, when I had to return to Brazil to manage affairs, John Hogg’s support was unwavering. Their empathy and patience throughout my grieving period have left me eternally grateful. This experience highlighted the company’s remarkable humanity and understanding, which has significantly aided my development curve during such a difficult phase of my life.

With the recent reorganization of our company into business units, my placement within the Fuel Marking Technologies BU has introduced an exciting, almost “start-up” vibe. This change has infused my role with a sense of new beginnings, offering the exhilarating opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation within our field.