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Harold Leete is an accomplished sales executive with over 25 years of experience in the printing and packaging industry. Currently serving as the North America Director of Sales for the Folding Carton division at BOBST, Harold leads a team of Regional Sales Managers and oversees national accounts for companies with multiple manufacturing locations across North America. Before this role, he spent nearly 11 years at HP Inc., where he held various positions, including HP Indigo Sales Account Manager and Business Development Manager for Industrial Print.
Harold’s career also includes significant experience as a Regional Sales Manager at BOBST and sales roles at Heidelberg and Bottcher America Corp. His expertise spans folding cartons, digital printing, print on demand, offset printing, and packaging. Earlier in his career, Harold served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he completed several leadership courses and earned the distinction of Honor Graduate in the Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course.
Doug Herr is a highly respected sales leader with an extraordinary 47-year career at BOBST Group North America, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s success in the folding carton division. As the Director of Sales for Folding Carton, Doug oversees a team of Regional Sales Managers and manages national accounts for key companies across North America. Doug began his journey with BOBST in 1977, starting in sales support before advancing through various roles, including Sales Administrator, Supervisor of Sales Administration, and Regional Sales Manager for New England. His expertise and leadership led him to become the National Sales Manager in 1996, a position he has held for nearly three decades. Throughout his career, Doug has been known for his strategic vision, industry knowledge, and commitment to building strong customer relationships.
Doug’s contributions to BOBST extend beyond his official duties; he has played a pivotal role in creating a cohesive and productive sales team and has helped establish BOBST as a leader in the North American market. His dedication to innovation and customer success has made him a revered figure in the industry. As Doug prepares for his retirement on May 31, 2024, with a consulting role continuing until December 31, 2024, his legacy of excellence and leadership will continue to inspire those who had the privilege to work with him.
Christopher Santomassimo: So welcome back to the Think Factory podcast powered by OGC Solutions. And I’m your host today, Chris Santomassimo from OGC solutions. And we’re here on a, on a sunny August uh afternoon with, in my estimation. Uh It is a pretty impressive podcast. Thanks to the two folks that are here today uh from the BOBST group. I have Harold Leete and Doug H. So welcome to the, the Live Think Factory podcast in our studio.
Doug Herr: Thank you, Chris. Great to be here.
Harold Leete: Thank you, Chris. I appreciate your time.
Christopher Santomassimo: It’s a, it’s a pleasure. I mean, uh everybody in packaging knows the BOBST Group. So I’m uh I’m just flattered that you guys took some time out of your schedule to, to come visit the podcast and, and talk about what’s new and different in the industry as well as at BOBST. So, thanks so much.
Doug Herr: Well, it sounds great. It works out very well. We’re so close. We’re only a couple of miles up the road here in Parsippany. So, uh we really appreciate uh the invitation to come over. It’s terrific.
Harold Leete: It worked out real well. We’re both here today at the same time. So timing,
Doug Herr: which doesn’t happen that much.
Harold Leete: No timing couldn’t have been better.
Christopher Santomassimo: Exactly. Well, you guys are, let’s focus on you guys for a minute. I mean, what’s interesting about the two of you is that you’re sort of passing a baton and Harold is, I’m looking at Doug. Doug is passing the baton and Harold is receiving the baton when it comes to the senior sales responsibilities, uh, here in the US. So talk a little bit about, you know, yourselves, your background and, and what’s happening on that on that side of the house too?
Doug Herr: Ok. So basically, I’ve been fortunate enough to have 47 years with BOBST’s fresh out of college. Uh join the BOBST organization and sales support, work my way up through sales in various positions, various sales territories, uh various responsibilities. And uh after so many years, uh figured it was time to somewhat hang up the uh ha hang it up and, and move on in my life. Uh Harold had worked with us uh previously, he had handled the uh New England sales territory. And when I decided to uh to retire from BOBST, Harold had joined another organization and I wanted to uh bring him back. I knew he’d be a great addition in his new role as uh director of sales.
Christopher Santomassimo: Terrific. So you got pulled back into the organization.
Harold Leete: Yeah. I, I actually couldn’t be more appreciative of my career at BOBST because of working for Doug, I started, I came from a printing background. So I actually used to be a press operator one time I worked my way up the ladder selling consumables and then capital equipment. And then, uh, back in, uh, 2007, uh, my career took an interesting turn. And, uh, actually a head hunter approached me and I met Doug for the first time. Uh, Doug lives in Connecticut and actually an area of Connecticut was very familiar with too. So we kind of had a little bit of common interest and, um, you know, when the interview process with Doug kind of took a little bit of time. Um, and it was, uh, it was very rewarding too. So when I came on board with BOBST 1007, I didn’t know anything about the packaging industry working with Doug and a couple other key players at, at the company. I, uh I, you know, I not only learned a lot about the business, I grew a passion for it too. Uh It’s a great, it’s a great organization with, with an outstanding group of people here too. And, uh, so I was with the BOBST from that time period, like Doug said from 2007 to 2013. And I left to work, uh, went to work for another company, um, leading their, uh, their digital folding cart and printing and I was there for almost 11 years and, uh, Doug and I kept in touch with the years too. We used to cross paths all the time and, um, when I got the call, I, I was actually shocked because I didn’t think Doug would ever retire. He’s been here, as he said, 47 years and everybody knows Doug very well respected in the industry. And, um, we sat down and talked for quite a while and, you know, I couldn’t have been more honored to get the call that he would want me to come and, uh you know, be his successor. And since I’ve come on board, Doug has been great to work with and it’s just like we didn’t skip a beat.
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