National Account Executive (Whisky Specs)

What makes this a great opportunity?

As Suntory Global Spirits accelerates its global footprint, we move into year 2 of our own commercial business in the UK. As one of the largest, most sophisticated spirits markets in the world, the UK offers significant potential for our portfolio of premium brands. We have a world-class team that is rooted in strong foundations, led by our values and long-term commercial ambition.

As National Account Executive in Whisky Specialists you’ll be responsible for growing our brands across key customers. This is a great opportunity to utilise your strong network and understanding to build our premium portfolio in the capital to support our goal of being the worlds most admired spirit’s company.

Role Responsibilities

• Responsible for account management of your defined customers, ensuring mutually beneficial relationships that grow our brands and meet our customers’ needs
• Delivery of budgeted Volume, £NSV, £GP and distribution targets with the defined customer(s)
• Responsible for formulating and controlling the key business processes, such as weekly & monthly performance updates demand forecasting, annual planning for your customers to build budgets.
• Building clear business plans for investment in secondary space and activation
• Play a prominent role in Luxury Retail & Whisky Specialists strategy for immediate and medium-term timescale
• Ensure close collaboration with Commercial Marketing to bring brand plans to life in the market
• Working closely with other functions such as Finance, Culture and Operations to ensure the best possible delivery against agreed KPI’s and targets.
• Building positive, mutually beneficial business relationships with customers
• Preparing and presenting to customers, aligning on implementation
• Managing the promotional plan and working effectively to launch NPD and hit key times of the year with your customer base

Qualifications

• Demonstrable sales/commercial experience (3 years+), including working with premium products across wine retail, demonstrating ability to grow premium products
• Awareness and understanding of the complexities of your customers and how to drive commercial performance without compromising brand equity or provenance
• Experience working in commercial within FMCG with demonstrable previous involvement of working with specialist retail outlets
• A strong ability to forecast accurately and an attention to detail
• Able to demonstrate analytical skills and communicate category insights to develop compelling, mutually beneficial growth plans.
• Entrepreneurship and an eye for new opportunities

• Well-developed written & verbal communication, presentation skills
• Highly developed negotiation and account management skills
• Excellent relationship builder with proven ability to network with a variety of customer accounts
• Passion for the drinks industry and unique and rare whisky
• Happy to get ‘hands dirty’ and get involved in all that is going on at Suntory Global Spirits
• Autonomous, with a can-do attitude willing to go above and beyond.