Name: Yaser Shabsogh
Company: Kia
Job: Sales director
Age: 41

How did you get in to the automotive business?
I was always fascinated with cars, machinery and tech-nology. I studied mechanical engineering at university with the aim of joining the industry.

What does your job entail?
Delivering sales results to retail and fleet customers. Within that is the development of our dealer network and good communications with both dealers and customers.

How will your job change over the next few years?
I would expect it to be similar but tougher. Competition is not slowing down – if anything, we will get more competition from China and India as well as all the established players.

Other jobs?
I spent 16 years with Ford.

What advice would you give to someone joining the industry?
Do it!

What’s the worst career move you’ve ever made?
I don’t regret a single move I made (or refused to make).

And the best?
Hopefully, moving to Kia.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
If we achieve the things we want to do with Kia in the next couple of years, I will be extremely happy and maybe then I would think about the next 10 years.

Favourite book
Asimov’s foundation books.

Favourite holiday
Cape Town, South Africa.

Favourite film
Blade Runner.

Favourite music
David Bowie’s older stuff and Fairuz (Arabic singer).

First car
1980 Ford Escort.

Dream car
Bugatti Veyron.

Luxury item
Time with family.