Darren Ashton has over 25 years of experience in product management, marketing, sales, and customer service roles. He has a strong background in the automotive and industrial sectors, specifically in areas like technical support, sales and marketing, research and development, and customer service. His resume outlines his work history at several companies, highlighting accomplishments like developing training programs, coordinating marketing materials, and managing product lines in roles of increasing responsibility.

1. Darren A. Ashton
♦ 420-5327 Upper Middle Rd. ♦ Burlington, ON ♦ L7L 0E9 ♦ Cell- 416-705-1325♦d_ashton1@yahoo.ca
PROFILE
An experienced Product Management professional with expertise in Sales and Marketing, Research and
Development, Quality Assurance, Competitive Analysis, Technical Support, and Internal and External
Customer Service. Strong analytical skills, with a keen sense of organization and a high degree of
personal integrity and professionalism. I am committed to successfully meeting the demands of deadlines,
multiple projects and ever-changing client needs. Through managing work teams, innovation,
organization, attention to detail, and flexibility, achieving natural leadership strengths, with strong
communication and interpersonal skills for effective development of sound teamwork relationships.
AREAS of SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE
 Sales and Marketing  Technical Support  Price and Quotation Management
 Presentation Design and Delivery  Database Management  Customer Service
 Research and Development  Information Management  Product Quality Assurance
 Competitive Analysis  Action Planning  Supervisory Skills
 Purchasing  Priority Management  Order Processing
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Developed Semi-Annual Product Line Master Catalogue working in conjunction with engineering,
graphics department, printing and distribution to customer base
 Coordinated all Training and Marketing Materials for yearly National Sales Conferences and Regional
Sales Meetings for all products and all brands
 Developed/coordinated Automotive Aftermarket Product and Marketing Sales Training Library of
“Sales Tools” for the National Sales force for all product lines including National and Private Brands
 Trainer for new business for a large Automotive distributor in Western Canada; developed training and
presented presentation sessions in Western Canada which encompassed employees from 72 stores
 MVP Award –Truck and Trailer Award - Outstanding Sales and Marketing Support
 Team Leader (Montreal QC. Area) coordinating a 6-week changeover for new business of a large
national customer to our private branded line of Automotive and Heavy Duty Filtration products
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
PARKER HANNIFIN CANADA– MILTON, ON July 2008 – July 2016
Inside Sales Representative – Truck and Mobile Products – Parker Canada Division
Responsible for all aspects of inside sales and customer support for Truck and Mobile customers for both
OEM and Warehouse Distributor sales channels.
 Processing of emergency and stock orders via telephone, fax, e-mail, and EDI
 First line of support for Warehouse Distributors, OEM Manufacturers and Truck Dealers
 Technical product and Sales support for PTO, Hydraulic Pump and Cylinder product lines
 Interaction with various departments including procurement, marketing, warehouse operations, product
management, outside sales and outside vendors.
 Working with other Parker manufacturing divisions in expediting of product
 Customer complaint resolution
 Continuous improvement in knowledge of technical support of Parker product lines
 Member of the HBU High Performance Team for PTO, Pumps, Motors and Hydraulic Valve products

2. Darren A. Ashton
MANHEIM CANADA – MILTON, ON November 2007 – July 2008
Total Resource Auctions Coordinator – Salvage Operations – Toronto Auto Auction
Responsible for the operational, promotional and fiscal activities related to the Bi-monthly Thursday
Salvage vehicle sale, including planning, development, and growth of the sale.
 Plan and manage the operational activities of the sale
 To grow and develop the Salvage Sale to achieve fiscal objectives
 To communicate and coordinate with various auction departments to ensure efficiencies
 Work with Dealer Sales and Fleet & Lease to build and strengthen dealer relations to maximize
consignment and buyer participation and attendance at the sale
 Research, develop and update a business plan for the sale
 Manage and direct auctioneers and responsible for mediating dealer disputes
HAMSAR DIVERSCO INC. – BURLINGTON, ON April 2004 - Sept 2007
Product Marketing Manager – Aftermarket Lighting and Electronics – North America
Responsible for all aspects of managing the Marketing and Sales support of Automotive and Heavy Duty
Aftermarket Lighting Products and Electronics with annual sales of $20 Million dollars
 Determined pricing for all aftermarket products based on cost and market research including
development of annual price list for both Canada and USA customer base
 Responsible for Semi-annual catalogue and all customer and sales support sell sheets and flyers
 Directed the change and direction of the Hamsar Website working in coordination with IT
 Developed Sales Support materials including cross-referencing for both internal and customer use
 Worked in conjunction with customers to develop effective retail displays to market products
 Instituted and maintained a system to track and store all incoming competitor samples
 Coordinated and attended annual industry trade shows for both Automotive and Heavy Duty Market
Segments including SEMA, Automechanika, RVIA, Con-Expo/Con-Agg and Mid-America Trucking
show
DANA CANADA CORPORATION - BEAMSVILLE, ON 1991 - 2004
Product Manager – Automotive Engine Management Systems 2001 – 2004
Responsible for all aspects of managing branded products with annual sales of $20 Million dollars
 Technical Engine Systems daily product support to national customer base and Canadian Sales Team
 Create product support bulletins ~ Sales Bulletins; Technical Bulletins; New Number Announcements
 Utilized scanning and image software to create presentations and promotional materials for training
 Coordinate with manufacturing facilities to enhance new product development
 Competitive analysis/comparison for product and pricing between competition in Canadian marketplace
 Contribute to semi-annual Product Strategic Planning meetings as a team member and execute action
plans for improvement in both marketing programs and product offering
 Maintain Internal product “Aftermarket” database of part number updates, deletions, costing changes,
customer quotations and net pricing files
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3. Darren A. Ashton
 Responsible for warranty and labor claims to improve product quality assurance and improve on
lowering the total annual warranty cost
 Assist sales team as required at customer locations throughout Canada for issues of product training and
demonstrations, trade shows, detailing customer calls, and assisting in Competitor Product changeovers
 Maintained quarterly visits to U.S. product manufacturing facilities to act as liaison with plants to
improve on both marketing and product issues within the Canadian marketplace
Advertising / Promotions & Marketing Support Analyst 1999 – 2001
Responsible for developing support materials for the Canadian Automotive Marketing and Sales teams
representing Victor Reinz gaskets, Clevite Bearing and Engine Parts, WIX and Kralinator filtration,
BWD Engine Management products and Private Branded Products for Napa and CARQUEST
 Developed Customer and sales force presentations for both marketing programs and product support
 Produced promotional sell sheets and flyers and product print advertising, satisfying U.S. compliance
 Arranged for translation of support materials and advertising for French Customer base and Sales Force
 Coordinated print advertising with major Canadian Automotive Aftermarket Industry Trade Magazines
 Researched and produced Quarterly “What’s New” Newsletter Publication for Canadian Sales Groups
Product Manager – Fluid Connectors & Industrial Hose 1995 – 1999
All aspects of Product Management for the Hydraulic Fluid Connectors products lines of Weatherhead
Fluid Connectors, Boston Transfer Hose, and Boston Hose of Teflon with annual sales of $18 million.
 Conducted regular Training of Industrial and Automotive customer base consisting of 65
representatives including training of safety procedures and product updates
 Conducted monthly field sales calls to make product recommendations to customers
Customer Service Representative 1991 – 1995
First contact support for Customer Telephone and Fax order entry and all general account, order
enquires and basic product support for Automotive, Truck, Trailer and Industrial Product Lines.
EDUCATION
Georgian College – Canadian Automotive Institute, Barrie, ON 1991
 Diploma ~ Business Administration / Automotive Marketing (included 3 Co-op Work-terms)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Gear Pump Product Training
 Problem Solving / Decision Making
 Mobile Hydraulic Fundamentals
 Mobile Hydraulic Technology
 Fundamentals of Supervision I and II  Hydraulics Market and Application Selling
 Group Dynamics and Quality  Hydraulics Tube & Pipe Fittings
 Money and Business  Hydraulics Product Fundamentals
 Light Truck Chassis Product Line
 WHMIS
 ISO14001
 Industrial Hose Products/ Hose of Teflon
 Diversity Training
 Dale Carnegie
 Lean Enterprise
 Dana “Doctor of Motors” Automotive Engine, Chassis and Hydraulic Systems Certification
 Dana Certified Supervisor Program
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4. Darren A. Ashton
EXTENSIVE COMPUTER EXPERTISE
 MS Office Products  Windows 7
 Parker MSSV System
 Adobe Acrobat Writer
 Lotus Notes
 MS Outlook
 Parker Canada Data
Warehouse System
References available upon request
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