The yet-to-be-launched new service from the print procurement firm already has one “large client” in the UK, according to Lock, but partners are required across the world before an official launch takes place.
Lock started work at the Oxfordshire-headquartered firm on 6 April and has spent his first days integrating with the team and preparing for the project ahead.
“Webmart is innovative, young, creative and a really exciting place to work,” said Lock. “I was drawn to them by the team’s ethics and what they stand for – it is a very transparent culture and the product I will be selling is very interesting.
“My role is to go out and find the right people in the right countries who will partner with us on this new platform. We could be ready for launch in about three to six months, maybe quicker, depending on the capabilities and readiness of our partners.
“After only three days here I have to say Webmart is an incredibly exciting place. I went out with an account director and our head of sales to meet customers and what I had heard about their reputation was confirmed by those I spoke to. They delight their customers.”
Having spent 10 years at Duplo, Lock chose to leave the post-press supplier in February in search of “a new challenge”. Over the past decade, he also worked as an international marketing manager and spent three years as the company’s UK managing director.
“You need to learn lessons from every part of your life,” he said. “I am always looking back and trying to improve and adapt. I learned a lot at Duplo and my experience working internationally will really help me – I have a lot of great contacts around the world now.”
Lock said his main focus for the time being was on “getting my feet under the table” at Webmart as the development of the platform proceeds, though he may look at taking on additional projects after finding his feet.
Once an air-to-air missile technician for the Royal Air Force, Lock began working in the print industry as technical support for Xerox before moving to Toshiba and OKI – the latter of which he worked for as general manager of marketing and sales before joining Duplo.
