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| A United Kingdom Perspective |
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| | Chris Hunt
Territory Manager, Fuels Marketing, Retail
Studied History at Warwick University
I joined ExxonMobil's Retail division in 2000 through the Graduate Entry Scheme. The training programme looked fantastic and made me feel comfortable about the jump from academia to real work! The London Business School not only provides you with the opportunity to extend your learning and apply it to your current workplace, but also to maintain relationships and networks with graduates in all areas of the business.
My first role was working as a Pricing Analyst, providing assistance to the team which operated our PriceWatch programme. During my time there we faced some real challenges, including the national fuels crisis and Ireland's conversion to the Euro. Talk about a real job from day one! I also had to learn to combine the need to deal with urgent operational issues whilst meeting longer-term business objectives. After about a year I moved roles to become part of the team that managed the Business Review - an annual process which looks to ensure that our retail outlets are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. It was a good role for honing my analytical skills and an invaluable insight into the economics upon which our retail business is built.
I then moved roles and became a Territory Manager, responsible for more than 30 Esso service stations. Working from my home office, the role comprised providing business and financial advice to the Retailers who operate each of the service stations, providing management and environmental control of the fuel on-site and offering advice on the product range and style of merchandising in each of the site's convenience stores.
In August 2003 I took on my most challenging and exciting role to date, where I am the Territory Manager for our directly managed 'On the Run' Service Stations. The role is very varied: I liaise with our key supply partners Costa Coffee and Delice de France to ensure that our customer offer is unbeatable; I ensure that the execution of our in-store marketing is top notch; and I help to keep a team of very dedicated Store Managers motivated. I get to experience 'real-life' retailing and understand what it takes to operate in a 24/7 business.
The organisation has a strong team culture and encourages interaction with, and the chance to learn from, all management levels within the company. The people I met when I came for interview and assessment centre were one of the key factors that helped me decide to take the job at ExxonMobil and I haven't been disappointed since I arrived. In all the roles that I have done and the variety of groups that I've worked in, it really has been the people and teams that have made the whole experience immensely enjoyable.
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