Meet the Dopharma Team!

In this first edition we introduce the Area Managers at Dopharma International: Suzanne Dirven and Frank Bokkers.

Introduce yourself and tell us about your main tasks and/or responsibilities?

Suzanne: I am Suzanne van Dirven. At Dopharma, I look after the distributors in Europe and handle contract manufacturing. I’ve been doing this for 14 years now. At home, I am a mother to three children and in my spare time I enjoy cooking and cycling.

Frank: I am Frank Bokkers, responsible for exports to the Middle East and Africa. Working at Dopharma. I’ve been with the company since 1995, so that’s nearly 29 years. I am also married and have three sons. In my spare time, I like to work in the garden.

What does your working day usually look like?

Suzanne: The crux of our job is maintaining relationships with our customers. As Area Managers, we are the link between the customer and Dopharma. So, we are the “hub of the wheel”, liaising with the customer and various departments within Dopharma like Regulatory, Supply chain, Marketing, Customer service and Labels .

Frank: In the morning I always start by sending out the quotations and securing orders, which I really enjoy. This sets the stage for other colleagues, like the production team, to get going. Working in the office is a plus because I can pop over to colleagues from different departments, instead of just calling or emailing. In the afternoon, I make calls to clients for follow-ups, answering questions, and the like.

What do you like most about your job?

Suzanne: The variety between different countries and cultures, interacting with people and visiting clients. That’s what fuels me! It is always fascinating to see how the farming operates in other countries. Personal contact and short lines of communication are very important and they’re aspects where we really stand out.

Frank: When I think about how things were managed here 20 years ago, we’ve come a long way. Plus, I’m quite commercially minded and simply love making sales. Travelling and staying in a country are great for face-to-face interactions with the client and their team, getting to know the local market and the country itself. However, the actual travel part isn’t as fun (flying, waiting at airports, etc.). Meeting in person really helps build a better connection, making communication easier down the line.

Can you share something fun or memorable from your work?

Frank: Getting to know and see different countries is exciting: from going on a safari in Tanzania to crossing deserts, etc. makes the travelling enjoyable.

Suzanne: Back home in the Netherlands, we’re all about planning and structure, but when I’m on the road, I know the day won’t go as I had it planned.

Has work taken you to any special places or allowed you to meet interesting people?

Suzanne: Every country has its own unique and beautiful spots, and you can’t really compare one country to another, not even in terms of work culture. Sometimes, you find yourself in places where tourists rarely tread, which makes the journey even more special.

Frank: I completely agree with Suzanne. To me, even a desert is beautiful! And visiting various farms in the middle of nowhere, places where tourists seldom go, can be surprisingly delightful.