Who got that job?

By KAREN GOA

Job title: Marketing Manager, Cerebos Gregg's

Robert Harris coffee, Raro drink powder, Gregg's herbs and spices - these New Zealand kitchen staples are part of Janine Chandler's 500-strong product portfolio as marketing manager for Cerebos Gregg's.

Chandler, who made the cross-planet move from Britain to Auckland in December with her consultant psychiatrist husband, says "understanding the New Zealand market is almost like [learning] a different language - but the actual issues and opportunities are so familiar". The local market's knowledge and expectations are sophisticated, she says. "Everyone's becoming an expert in the same way as for wine."

Chandler holds a degree in management and business studies from Liverpool University and in Britain was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, which also includes business. In more than 13 years as marketing manager and brand controller she's handled blue-chip brands such as Castlemaine XXXX, Carlsberg and, most recently, Britvic Softdrinks in Britain. During two years in Bermuda she handled such industry giants as Cadbury, Gillette, Revlon and GlaxoSmithKline

Her major challenge is something of a David-meets-Goliath scenario.

"Every day I have to wake up and face some of the biggest multinationals around. Innovation is key - you can't stand still."

On the plus side, locals are familiar with the company and the products, which "are virtually all Kiwi" and have a long history in New Zealand. For example, "Robert Harris was the first to introduce fresh coffee to New Zealanders in the 1960s, and Raro - you don't get that anywhere else."

Being part of a local company means she and her team can respond directly to the New Zealand market.

Chandler observes that "New Zealand is a very patriotic country - people revel in what is New Zealand - and that is a real strength".