Senior Category Manager (Sainsbury's & Premium Retail)

• Apr 2023 - Present

Senior Category Manager (Tesco Group)

• Jun 2022 - Apr 2023

At Suntory, I am in the process of working collaboratively with my fellow colleagues to move the Category Agenda into the heart of our business through demonstrating how Category can help shape our Strategic Vision and Ambitions. I have sought to bring learnings from previous roles/FMCG’s into Suntory to share best practice in not just Category Leadership, but in fundamentals such as ways of working, communication and sharing of knowledge. With Tesco, I have been working to build our Category credibility and capability through Category Deep Dives, NPD Reviews, Range Reset Support, Trend Analysis and relationship building. In the process of developing our category relationships with Tesco, I have sought to bring some of the challenges Tesco are facing internally to key stakeholders. I have done this through NPD Tracking, Performance Deep Dives, as well as working with Dunnhumby to develop Shopper Profiling for Suntory Brands & the segment’s Suntory play in. Show less

Category Manager (Tesco Group) & Convenience Lead

• Aug 2021 - Jun 2022

At Muller I brought a strong sense of Thought Leadership to MMI’s approach to Category Management and was instrumental in reshaping the team. With Tesco, I took our relationship from 15th out of 16 in AGS to becoming the go to for Category Expertise. I also helped to widen MMI's reach within Tesco beyond the main commercial team. In my time at MMI with Tesco, I developed a 3 Year Convenience Strategy for Milk, provided extensive forecasting including Macro Category projections; Implemented trials in Tesco Express to develop future hypotheses of how the category may look in 2025; and supported with the tendering of key pieces of Innovation for 2022 and beyond. Internally, I took on people-management responsibilities for a Category Executive which included widening my remit of customers beyond the Tesco Group, as well as being part of the recruitment process for new starters. Within the Category function, I worked with the Head of Category to develop a new Convenience Strategy; produced 10 Year Market Forecast; raised the presence of Category within the Muller Business; widened Muller's use of expert external agencies; managed data contracts and improved cross Business Unit working between Muller Milk & Muller Yogurt & Desserts. Show less

Category Manager (Coop), Convenience Seasonal Lead & Neurodiversity Campaigner

• Jul 2018 - Aug 2021

Over the 3 years in role I worked as part of the Coop Category Team that developed our relationship with Coop from a transactional one to Category Partners. As a Category Partner in Coop I worked collaboratively with their Buying team to develop their Seasonal, Wholesale & Health Strategies; jointly led their 3* Range Review; and was seen as best-in-class for Seasonal.The category support I provided throughout the impact of COVID on Coop allowed the Impulse Buying Team to gain supply chain support and de-risk the Category with the buyer praising Mondelez as Best In Class for Category Leadership during a time of crisis.Internally I was the Seasonal Lead for Convenience, working to develop the right long-term strategies across Mondelez' customers and Retail Environments.As the Convenience Lead for Seasonal & Gifting, I was involved in driving change to how Mondelez presented their Seasonal Plans and helped to bring the voice of Convenience Retailers to the heart of the Mondelez business. As well as working on Coop, I was an internal training specialist for the wider Customer Category Team on Best Practice for Presentations and Storytelling.Beyond the day job, at the start of 2020 I suffered a relapse in my Epilepsy and used this as a springboard to work with colleagues on developing our approach to Neurodiversity. Show less

Space Planning Executive

• Nov 2016 - Jun 2018

My first 18 months in Mondelez was as part of the Space Planning Team as Biscuits lead and customer aligned to ASDA, Coop, and the Discounters.Category Lead in Space Planning for Biscuits which drove change in how Mondelez developed NPDs, SRP and PPA.Took responsibility for mentoring and developing new members of the team, both of which went on to achieve promotion to more senior roles in Mondelez.Drove Best Practice in Space Planning and Merchandising Principles, including working on Mondelez’ Point of Buying Vision Show less

Retail Manager

• Oct 2012 - Nov 2016

For 10 years, over 2 spells, I worked for the John Lewis Partnership across two branches and a dozen departments including specialist areas such as Technical Support and Catering. I have worked on a number of end-to-end projects, including Christmas Planning, Stock Management Customer Services, Food Hygiene Management and Staff Planning. Throughout my various roles I supported a number of promising partners who went on to achieve their own are managerial roles. For 10 years, over 2 spells, I worked for the John Lewis Partnership across two branches and a dozen departments including specialist areas such as Technical Support and Catering. I have worked on a number of end-to-end projects, including Christmas Planning, Stock Management Customer Services, Food Hygiene Management and Staff Planning. Throughout my various roles I supported a number of promising partners who went on to achieve their own are managerial roles.

Category Executive

• Dec 2011 - Jan 2013

LiM CatMan was a consultancy company that specialised in Category Management, Space Planning and Training. I came into LiM as a trainee who was new to category management. I was mentored by a former Diageo Senior Category Development Manager with over 30 years of FMCG experience. LiM CatMan was a consultancy company that specialised in Category Management, Space Planning and Training. I came into LiM as a trainee who was new to category management. I was mentored by a former Diageo Senior Category Development Manager with over 30 years of FMCG experience.

Various Local Government Roles

• Jul 2009 - Dec 2011

Upon graduating in 2009, I used my degree to work in several temporary roles in different Local Authorities. During this time, I managed Committees, Council meetings, Local & General Elections and a referendum on Proportional Representation. Upon graduating in 2009, I used my degree to work in several temporary roles in different Local Authorities. During this time, I managed Committees, Council meetings, Local & General Elections and a referendum on Proportional Representation.