Craig spoke to us about his time with Pernod Ricard (over 10 years!) as he moved up through 6 different roles in the commercial function.
Tell us about your career at Pernod Ricard
I have been with Pernod Ricard for over ten years now after graduating from university, and within that time have progressed through six different roles within the UK commercial function. I’m now a Customer Business Manager looking after our biggest wholesale customer in the ‘On-Trade’ sector (i.e. sales into licensed premises such as pubs, bars and restaurants).
The great thing about working at Pernod Ricard is that there are various opportunities to progress your career, and that doesn’t have to be within one function or in the same country for that matter! As I progress through my own career, I’m very open to roles outside of commercial to ensure that I am constantly broadening my knowledge and wider skill set.
What’s the most exciting thing about your role?
The most exciting thing for me is that every day is different – within my team, it’s vital to ensure that our products are available to our On-Trade customers in an environment where consumer trends and demand can change quickly.
I also have a lot of autonomy and flexibility to create my own sales plans to mutually grow business with the customers I manage.
Working with such a broad portfolio as we have at Pernod Ricard also provides numerous opportunities to partner with our customers to bring our brands to life in their outlets, which in turn helps to ensure consumers have the best experience of our brands.
How would you describe the Pernod Ricard culture and what advice would you give someone starting their career at Pernod Ricard?
For me, it’s the culture that makes Pernod Ricard a truly unique, enjoyable and inspiring place to work. Conviviality and inclusivity underpin everything we do as a business, and I’m proud to work for a company which champions this at every opportunity.
The people who work here are passionate about driving the business forward together, and the business is equally as passionate about supporting the personal development of its employees.
The best advice I can give to someone starting their career at Pernod Ricard is to draw on the experience of others and never stop asking questions. The convivial culture of the business promotes this, and I’m very lucky to work with such talented colleagues who are always on hand to support and share their own knowledge.
What does a typical day look like in field sales?
A typical day in field sales centres around being in trade visiting customers and being the regional ambassador for Pernod Ricard, selling our products and helping our customers grow their own businesses. I really enjoyed my time as a Business Development Executive because you are always meeting new people and no day is the same.
I also felt a real sense of empowerment and autonomy in the role because your sales region is ultimately yours to nurture. It was great to work with so many independent On-Trade operators to grow their business, and you can see in real-time the tangible impact you make when more consumers are able to enjoy our brands.
Interested in following Craig's footsteps? Find all opportunities with Pernod Ricard here.