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Job title: General manager, Books and More.

Two things attracted Mark Gibson, 41, to this job: the chance of building up the fledging Books and More chain and working with the two large companies which gave birth to it.

A joint venture between heavyweights NZ Post and British books retailer WH Smith, Whitcoulls' owner, the franchise has grown to 36 stores in just three years. Its annual turnover is about $80 million.

Gibson, who is based in Auckland, enjoys the dynamics of joint ventures.

In the mid-90s, he was general manager with a joint venture between Blue Star Group and NZ Post, a direct marketing company called New Zealand Direct which targeted small and medium-sized businesses.

Before joining Books and More, he was general manager of NZ Post subsidiary KiwiMail, a circular distributor, and previously worked as sales and marketing manager for CourierPost.

Gibson says he intends to be "fairly visible" in his new role and will be out and about visiting the stores.

Gibson reckons the two major things he brings to his new job is the ability to develop a brand and leadership.

He says: "All management roles revolve around the ability to lead people and provide direction."