Sophie
Brand Manager Nestlé UK
More Marketing profiles
As a graduate, I found that Nestlé provides good opportunities for career development through the Graduate Development programme and on-the-job training from line managers and cross-functional colleagues.
It's astonishing the level of responsibility that Nestlé trusts you to take on. I joined as an Assistant Brand Manager in March 2007 after completing my MSc in Marketing and Strategy at the University of Warwick and a six-month internship at a communications technology company. I moved on to Brand Manager on NESCAFÉ® Original, one of the biggest brands of Nestlé UK, in May 2008.
Now I'm currently responsible for the implementation of brand plans and day-to-day management of NESCAFÉ Original, developing the NESCAFÉ Decaff strategy and launching a new and exciting coffee product into the UK market. I work hard on understanding the consumers', shoppers' and retailers' needs and building the collaborative cross-functional relationships that are so important in a network culture like Nestlé.
Working on a big brand like NESCAFÉ® has provided me with valuable experiences and skills. Being commercially minded is important when working on a big brand because its results will impact the rest of the business. Big brands also get more attention – so I get to present my plans and recommendations to senior management on a regular basis. I also have a significant budget to build exciting plans with creative, media and promotional agencies such as a TV ad, press ads and instore activity to name but a few.
The experiences I've had so far at Nestlé, and so early on in my career, have been rewarding, and I look forward to the rest of them.
Sophie graduated from the University of Warwick with an MSc in Marketing and Strategy.
