Who got that job?

* General manager, Sunbeam

Pocket CV

Name: Christine Johnston
2004: The Building Depot, retail operations manager
1998-2004: Whitcoulls Group (Bennetts Campus Bookshops), retail operations manager
1996-1997: PC Direct, retail sales manager

Q: What were you doing before accepting your new position?

A: At the Building Depot, my role involved the full management of eight large format stores throughout New Zealand including budgeting, human resources, merchandising standards, inventory and full operational management of the business.

Sadly, within months of my joining, the company was placed in receivership. The focus was then on supporting managers and their teams through what was an intense and pressured period of trading, and ultimately working with the receiver/manager to wind the business down.

Clearly the businesses and roles are very different, however there are synergies for me as I have worked in a number of different categories in my retail career and the drivers in retail are the same regardless of category.

Q: Why did you apply for this job?

A: I was attracted by the opportunity of a change of category and a real challenge. I was also committed to joining a progressive, medium-size company which had affiliations with a larger corporate business.

Q: What major challenges are ahead of you?

A: This role poses a huge learning curve for me, in building my knowledge of the Sunbeam range, along with an understanding of our customers and competitors. Being new to the industry, it is harder for me to "hit the ground running", but then I can be more objective and I never assume.

Q: What qualities do you bring to the job?

A: I am passionate about retail and have worked in or been directly exposed to almost every area of retail, including purchasing, range and category management.

I strive to relate to the customer need and understand the varied issues that the retailer will face. I like to manage through my team, supporting my staff and seeing them develop. I also bring loyalty, energy and drive to any job I do.

Q: How much travel is involved in your new job?

A: There will be regular travel to Australia, around New Zealand of course, and some travel further afield to our manufacturing facilities and trade shows.

Q: What do you expect to be the most enjoyable parts of the job?

A: The people, both my team, the retailers and the consumers, we are all so important in the mix. And, of course, the Sunbeam product. It is a great range of product and a great brand.

Q: How will you judge success in your new job?

A: My employers will measure my success by my ability to return in excess of budgeted profit, along with building market share for Sunbeam in NZ. In addition, staff retention, a happy team who have had the opportunity to develop, to maintain a good reputation for Sunbeam in the market would also, in my view, be key to my success.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: I have a family, and hobbies seem to have taken a back seat in the last few years, but spending quality time with family and friends is paramount. Further to that I walk, read, spend time in my high-maintenance garden, and, of course, love to shop.