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Supply Planning Director |
Brief summary of career so far and an overview of current role:
I joined, with my French and Spanish degree, in 1987, on an HR graduate training scheme, working in sales, corporate HR, graduate recruitment and in HR for the European Schweppes office in Barcelona.
Within two years of finishing the scheme I was HR manager for our largest confectionery factory, before heading up HR for Cadbury Ltd's corporate and commercial departments. Then I was 'head-hunted' by the finance director to use my people management skills to manage the 40-strong credit control and supplier payments team.
I moved into Project Management for two years, which included leading the implementation of Sales and Operations Planning for Cadbury - a framework for optimising business planning.
From there, I moved into the supply chain, firstly heading up sales forecasting and later incorporating production planning.
Current role:
Supply Planning Director - I lead the teams that are responsible for sales forecasting & production planning.
What do you love about working at Cadbury?
Chocolate, of course. Cadbury as a brand. I love the Gorilla. I love the people – they’re great and they’re all motivated to get the best result for the business. I love the challenge and the problem solving. I love the opportunities you have here - I've been in three different parts of the business , worked internationally, and held key roles in HR, finance, project management and supply chain.
What has been your favourite role and why?
This one – it’s such a key role to both the supply chain and the commercial teams. I love the way the team can turn planning data into compelling reasons that lead people in the business to make the right decisions.
What has been your most challenging role and why?
UK Project Manager for the implementation of a global wall-to-wall computer system. The project was so big and so complex, it was impossible to get a grip on what was needed – I spent a year wrestling with diagrams and concepts with nothing tangible to bring to the UK business. It wasn’t much fun, but I learnt a huge amount, it set me on the path to supply chain, and we started something that was implemented a couple of years later, and without which my production, materials and deployment planners would be lost (and therefore so would I!)
What is your favourite product and why?
Cadbury Dairy Milk – it’s the reason I applied!