After joining ASK4 in October of last year, Tomás Sabán, Head of Business Development for Iberia, chats to us about his time at ASK4 so far and his expectations for the coming year.
Hi Tomás, first of all, can you share a little bit about your background and what attracted you to join ASK4?
I developed my career in the world of telecommunications operators, leading corporate sales teams across different companies over the last 20 years. I knew ASK4 from my previous roles in the telecom industry, as the company provides Internet access lines all across Spain.
The role of growing ASK4 in Iberia and getting the chance to work with such a professional team were two of the key motivators for joining the company.
What were your first impressions of ASK4?
At the start of any new role you always have uncertainty of whether you have made the right decision, but it was clear to me from the first week of my induction that I had made a great choice.
I was lucky enough to start my experience with two industry events (Global Student Living Live in London and The Class Conference in Barcelona) which gave me the opportunity to get to know most of our clients in a short space of time. This was key in helping to feel truly welcomed into ASK4.
As the Head of Business Development, you play a pivotal role in understanding market trends. What trends in the PBSA industry have you observed, and how does Iberia compare to the rest of Europe?
In the short time that I have been working in the industry, I have been able to verify that PBSA in Spain still has a long way to go with a supply much lower than is needed to meet resident demand. On the other hand, investment in Iberia into BTR and coliving (which has been included within the term Flex Living here) will be one of the great growth drivers in the coming years.
Our focus is on delivering top-notch customer service, being quick to respond to market demands in the region, and nurturing relationships with key decision makers. Our targets are challenging, but we have a skilled and independent team dedicated to serving clients, equipping us with the right tools to meet sector requirements effectively.
How do you approach the need to stay ahead of industry changes, and what role does innovation play in your business development strategies?
As a technology company, we are always looking to be at the forefront of solutions for our customers. The pace of technology evolution and our clients’ needs require us to be very agile and adapt our solutions to maintain our leadership. We also need to be engaged with emerging trends in multi-tenant accommodation so that we can deliver solutions and services as quickly as possible.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience at the company or any upcoming projects you're excited about?
I am tremendously motivated and excited about developing ASK4’s services in Iberia and being part of this team reaffirms the wisdom of having made the decision to leave my circle of comfort after 20 years. I will contribute all my effort, together with my colleagues, to continue leading and being the reference company in this industry both in the territories I am working with, and globally.
