My first experience of retail was when I joined Tesco in 1990 as a training manager. A year later, I became a customer service manager and after that I switched focus to human resources and became a HR manager.
I moved to become marketing manager for Welsh suppliers in August 2001 and I now have responsibility for Devon and Cornwall as well.

What are your core duties?
My major area of focus is expanding Tesco's range of locally sourced foods in Wales, Devon and Cornwall. My responsibilities dovetail with those of Pamela Campbell, marketing manager for Scotland, and Caiomhe Mannion, marketing manager for Northern Ireland.

With whom does your work bring you into contact?
All sorts ­ I work with government bodies, such as the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, regional development agencies and local food groups.
I speak Welsh as well as English, so I get lots of opportunities to work with the Language Board and the Welsh Assembly. I also take part in a lot of meet the buyer events and trade shows. Tesco is working with regional food group Taste of the West to organise a big meet the buyer event for suppliers in the West Country in April.
I also met with producers from Wales and the South West this week at the International Food & Drink Exhibition in London.
Tesco will have a presence at the Cornish Show, the Devon Show and the Royal Welsh Show later this year.

What are the major challenges in your job?
Getting the local range right for our retail customers by matching suppliers to stores has been a real test. But the response from the buyers has been fantastic.

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