Gary – Supply Chain Director Australia

I left a job in Supply Chain with another major multinational to join Sara Lee in 1996 because Sara Lee offered me a role which allowed me to be responsible for and learn some completely new areas.

After three years, I was asked to start up a new department (Household & Body Care Outsourcing), which has the responsibility for managing the division’s European third-party suppliers). In this new department, our small start-up team had to invent almost everything from scratch, including strategy, processes, quality and Global Business Practices audits and Key Performance Indicators). We gradually expanded the team to six managers. It was hectic and challenging, but very gratifying to see the results after four years.

I was then surprised by being asked if I would consider going to Indonesia to run the big household and body care factory there – even though I had never worked in the Asia Pacific Region. I accepted the challenge, which after 1 1/2 years led to another promotion to a regional manufacturing role.

In late 2007 I asked about the possibility of coming to Australia to fill an opening as supply chain director. I thought working in supply chain for Sara Lee Australia would be interesting and personally challenging because they support four different business units, which is unique in Sara Lee. This was the first time I actually suggested a new job – and my wish was granted.

In August 2009 the company asked me to transfer back to Europe to take up a role as Supply Chain director for Germany and the UK. This is even more responsibility than the Australian job and brings me back in contact with many colleagues from my first jobs in Sara Lee.

Although every job has been different, one thing is common across all – my boss and the company took the risk that I might fail, showed confidence in me and gave me opportunities I had only dreamt of.

My colleagues from my old company are almost all in early retirement now. As for me - I can look back on 13 years of really exciting jobs in four countries and feel like I’ve made a difference and can continue to make a difference in the coming years.