From recruitment to Employer of Record: supporting Resopal’s commercial development in Turkey
Entering or developing a new international market requires more than identifying business opportunities. For industrial companies, success often depends on finding the right local professional to represent the brand, develop customer relationships and build a sustainable commercial presence.
This was the challenge faced by Resopal, a German manufacturer specialising in decorative surfaces and high-pressure laminates (HPL).
To support its activities in the Turkish market, Resopal needed a Country Sales Manager in Turkey.
Azkan Group provided an end-to-end solution: first recruiting the appropriate Country Sales Manager and then employing the selected candidate through its Employer of Record (EOR) services in Turkey.
The client: Resopal
Client: Resopal
Industry: Decorative Surfaces / High-Pressure Laminates (HPL) / Interior Design & Building Materials
Country of origin: Germany
Position recruited: Country Sales Manager
Employee location: Turkey
Services provided by Azkan Group: Recruitment + Employer of Record (EOR) in Turkey
Resopal is a German manufacturer known for its expertise in high-pressure laminates (HPL) and decorative surface solutions.
Its products are designed for a wide range of architectural, interior design and industrial applications, combining functionality, durability and design.
Resopal solutions can be found in environments such as furniture, interior fittings, retail spaces, hospitality, healthcare, education and other commercial or architectural projects.
For a manufacturer operating in the building materials and decorative surfaces industry, developing international markets requires strong relationships with local distributors, architects, designers, manufacturers and other industry professionals.
Having the right commercial representative in the country can therefore be a decisive factor.
The challenge: finding the right Country Sales Manager in Turkey
Resopal wanted to strengthen its commercial presence in Turkey.
The objective was not simply to hire a salesperson.
The company needed a Country Sales Manager capable of understanding the Turkish market, representing the Resopal brand and developing relationships with the relevant commercial and industry stakeholders.
Recruiting this type of profile requires a combination of commercial experience, sector knowledge and an understanding of the local business environment.
The ideal candidate needed to be able to develop the market while operating as the local point of contact between Resopal and its customers and partners in Turkey.
Azkan Group was therefore entrusted with the recruitment process.
Step 1: recruiting a Country Sales Manager in Turkey
Azkan Group supported Resopal in identifying and recruiting the appropriate profile for the Turkish market.
Our recruitment approach was focused on finding a candidate capable of combining business development skills, local market knowledge and international company experience.
For a Country Sales Manager, technical qualifications alone are not sufficient.
The successful candidate also needs to understand how to develop long-term commercial relationships, identify opportunities, communicate effectively with an international headquarters and represent the company’s products and values locally.
Azkan Group managed the recruitment process with these requirements in mind.
Following the search and selection process, Resopal was able to identify the candidate who best matched its requirements for the Turkish market.
But recruiting the right person was only the first part of the project.
The next question was how to employ the Country Sales Manager locally in Turkey.
Step 2: Employer of Record in Turkey
Once the Country Sales Manager had been selected, Azkan Group provided Resopal with an Employer of Record solution in Turkey.
This allowed Resopal to employ its new Country Sales Manager locally without having to manage the entire Turkish employment and payroll infrastructure itself.
Under the EOR model, Resopal remains responsible for the employee’s commercial objectives, market development activities and day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Azkan Group manages the local employment administration.
Our Employer of Record services can include:
- preparation of Turkish employment documentation;
- employee onboarding;
- monthly payroll calculation;
- preparation of payslips;
- salary administration;
- Turkish social security (SGK) administration;
- statutory payroll obligations;
- leave and absence administration;
- expense management where applicable;
- ongoing HR administration;
- local employment support;
- and employee offboarding when required.
This provided Resopal with continuity between the recruitment process and the ongoing employment of its Country Sales Manager.
One partner for recruitment and employment in Turkey
One of the key advantages of this project was the ability to combine recruitment and Employer of Record services through a single local partner.
International companies entering Turkey may otherwise have to work with several different providers.
One company recruits the employee.
Another manages payroll.
Another advises on employment administration.
This can create unnecessary complexity, particularly when the international HR team is unfamiliar with the Turkish market.
Azkan Group was able to support Resopal throughout the process, from identifying the right Country Sales Manager to managing the local employment and payroll framework after the candidate joined the company.
Why local sales leadership matters in the building materials industry
The building materials, decorative surfaces and interior design industries depend heavily on local professional networks.
Manufacturers need to build relationships with different stakeholders depending on their products and distribution strategy.
These may include:
- distributors;
- furniture manufacturers;
- architects;
- interior designers;
- contractors;
- industrial customers;
- project developers;
- and other specialised partners.
A Country Sales Manager can play a central role in developing these relationships.
The position provides an international manufacturer with a person on the ground who understands local commercial practices, follows market developments and can identify new opportunities.
For a specialist manufacturer such as Resopal, this local commercial presence helps connect international manufacturing expertise with the realities of the Turkish market.
Recruitment and EOR as a market-entry strategy
The combination of recruitment and Employer of Record services in Turkey can be particularly relevant for international companies developing a new market.
Instead of immediately building a complete local organisation, a company can begin by recruiting one strategic employee.
For many B2B companies, this first employee is often a:
- Country Sales Manager;
- Country Manager;
- Business Development Manager;
- Sales Manager;
- Key Account Manager;
- Technical Sales Manager;
- or another senior commercial profile.
The employee can begin developing the market while the international company evaluates its longer-term opportunities in Turkey.
Meanwhile, the EOR provider manages the local employment infrastructure.
This creates a flexible model for companies that want a genuine local presence without immediately establishing a complete HR and payroll organisation in the country.
Supporting Resopal from candidate search to local employment
The Resopal project demonstrates the value of combining local recruitment expertise with Employer of Record capabilities.
The objective was clear: find the right Country Sales Manager for Turkey and provide the employment structure required to hire that person locally.
Azkan Group supported both stages of the project.
First, our recruitment expertise helped Resopal identify the commercial profile required for its development in Turkey.
Then, our Employer of Record services provided the local employment and payroll framework for the selected Country Sales Manager.
This integrated approach enabled Resopal to focus on what mattered most: developing its commercial activities and customer relationships in the Turkish market.
Azkan Group: Recruitment and Employer of Record in Turkey
Since 2005, Azkan Group has supported international companies with their HR and employment projects in Turkey.
Our services include Recruitment, Employer of Record (EOR), Payroll, Umbrella Company, Work Permit and HR services in Turkey.
For international companies entering the Turkish market, we can therefore provide support throughout the employee lifecycle.
We can identify the right local talent, assist with the recruitment process and subsequently provide the local employment structure through our Employer of Record solution.
This approach is particularly suitable for international B2B companies that need to recruit their first employees, sales representatives, Country Managers or specialised professionals in Turkey.
Looking for a Country Sales Manager in Turkey?
If your company wants to develop its commercial presence in Turkey, Azkan Group can help you recruit and employ your local team.
Whether you need a Country Sales Manager, Business Development Manager, Sales Engineer or another specialised profile, our recruitment team can identify suitable candidates for the Turkish market.
Once the right candidate has been selected, our Employer of Record in Turkey solution can provide the local employment, payroll and HR framework required to hire them.
Looking to recruit and employ a Country Sales Manager in Turkey? Contact Azkan Group to discuss your project.
