Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Our sales management team from Hungary talk about their role, career growth and culture, giving us insights into how you too can Make it an opportunity with MDLZ!

GÁBOR MÉSZÁROS (National Account Manager Modern Trade)

Please introduce yourself

My name is Gábor Mészáros and I currently work as National Account Manager for modern trade customers in Hungary. I’m responsible for ensuring that key commercial results are achieved in this channel and all agreed plans are executed perfectly. Moreover, find unique solutions for partner specific problems and come up with solutions and creative actions to achieve all business KPI’s.

When did you join MDLZ? And why did you choose to join MDLZ?

I’ve joined MDLZ on 1st March 2017 and started my career here in my current role. At that time, I had 6 colleagues in my team now I have 9 and the biggest change was the implementation of Chipita products into our life.

What is your current role and what makes it exciting?

Being responsible for roughly 50% of the company’s annual net revenue is never boring. Moreover, the retail environment is constantly changing so I face different challenges almost on weekly bases. It is really motivating to work in a sales team that always succeed and even in the biggest waves we are always able to sail through and find the sunny side of our everyday life.

What personal qualities or skills make you successful in your position?

Having good communicational skills both in Hungarian and in English, being authentic and charismatic, thinking proactively and always open for feedback. None the less, I am a strong team player we rely on each other. Therefore, the coordination of workflow and quick decision making – within my team and outside – is critical. All these factors are crucial to achieve my professional goals.

How has your career developed at MDLZ?

When I arrived, I had no experience as a NAM, so the first step was to gain experience in this role. Not only my line manager but internal and external expertise helped me. These were informal discussions or professional trainings. However, the most important fact is that we have a high trust level. It is part of our life that we make mistakes, but everything can be corrected. As a team, we have been successful during the last 6 years.

What makes working at the Hungarian HQ so unique?

Budapest office is unique because although it feels like a family business with only around 120 employees. On the other hand, we are a true representation of diversity with people originating from all over the country. Furthermore, who would not love to work with products like Milka or Oreo!

How do you describe the culture at MDLZ?

The culture and the atmosphere are very friendly and most importantly supportive. Anyone has a chance to talk to management members just as you would approach a new intern. You are rewarded and recognized for delivering great results. Recently our office had been renovated and became modern with a beautiful view to the Danube River. On regular bases after work, we do some fun activities together: concerts, sport events or just socializing.

And finally, why do you continue to choose MDLZ?

I continue at MDLZ because I see opportunities here to move into different functions or find opportunities in our HUB or central region. I continuously aim to improve, and I find opportunities do so. Furthermore, on the long term I find it extremely important to have the right work – life ratio. I consider it as a privilege to work for the number one Global snacking company.

TÍMEA HÉJJ (NATIONAL FIELD SALES MANAGER)

Please introduce yourself

I am Tímea Héjj, I work at MDLZ Hungary as a National Field Sales Manager. I have 30 years of sales experience in the FMCG market, 20 of which I gained here. With a people management background of 17 years, today I am at the head of a Field team of nearly 60 people. During my 20 years at MDLZ, I accompanied and led 4 integrations, which was an amazing learning and development process.

When did you join MDLZ? And why did you choose to join MDLZ?

It was 20 years ago when I joined our predecessor company, Győri Keksz Kft (Danone Biscuit) as a Key Account Manager. Why did I choose this company? Győri Keksz had a reputation as a popular company, the range of products (traditional Hungarian heritage and well-known international biscuit brands) was attractive to me, the commercial director was inspirational for me, from whom I could learn a lot.

What is your current role and what makes it exciting?

Currently I am the National Field Sales Manager, I have held this position for 10 years. You can never get bored of this task. Leading 60 people is a huge challenge and responsibility. Every day brings something new, something exciting. I have to constantly use and capitalize on everything that I have learned in the last 30 years and I have to constantly renew myself and look for new development opportunities. I must always lead by good example as an inspiring leader who encourage, develop and recognize others.

What personal qualities or skills make you successful in your position?

Being able to lead from the head and the heart. Tens of years of professional knowledge and experience provide rationality. But that's not enough to become a leader. Professional recognition is not enough without emotion, people-centeredness, empathy, and the ability to care for others.

In order to be able to support the development of others, I have to constantly improve myself. I am a mentor and graduate trainer. I use my coaching qualifications (life, business, sport, team, carrier coach) in everyday management practice.

How has your career developed at MDLZ?

I joined the company as a Key Account Manager. In a very short time, I became a National Account Manager, which helped me get to know each customer. I worked with international and domestic chains and wholesalers. During the integration, the product portfolio was expanded, which also ensured development and expansion of experience. For a short time I was able to try myself as a Customer Service &Logistic Manager, then my career path and my heart took me back to sales and I became a Field manager 10 years ago.

What makes working at the Hungarian HO so unique?

3 main reasons why Mondelez is unique:

1. 1. Number 1 international snacking company with strong, well-known market leader brands
2. 2. A company that provides a strong professional background and developmen
3. 3. Unparalleled corporate culture where the people first

How do you describe the culture at MDLZ?

In my opinion, the corporate culture - that I was able to participate in creating- is of great value. Of course, knowledge, experience, the will to do, hard work, can do attitude, delivering results, and agility are all important elements. But all this is worthless if there is no good community: we have a people-focused attitude, we help each other, everyone is valuable and we count on everyone's opinion, we respect each other, we are open and inclusive, we care and understand each other, and we love fun. Our local volunteer initiative is ’Mondelife’, which is dedicated to building and maintaining our corporate culture. I am the program's godmother and ambassador. A lot of extra work, time, energy and money that many of us put into this program is still worth it, because it is a wonderful feeling to see the satisfaction and joy of the employees. One of the keys to the success of the program is that we focus holistically on our physical, mental and spiritual well-being through the activities. It is no coincidence that our Engagement Survey results are also outstanding.

And finally, why do you continue to choose MDLZ?

Because I'm full of ideas that I still want to implement. Because I want to create additional value. Because it is good to belong to this community and I feel it is my mission to continue to build and maintain the corporate culture.

TAMÁS NAGY (NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER LOCAL MODERN TRADE)

Please introduce yourself

My name is Tamás Nagy, I am located in Budapest, HU Business Unit. I work at the sales department in the role of National Accounts Manager – Local Modern Trade.

When did you join MDLZ? And why did you choose to join MDLZ?

I joined MDLZ 25 years ago, just after graduating from College. At that time the company announced a management trainee program and provided me the possibility to work at each department for 1-2 months. So I basically joined each functions and was able to work on projects and assignments for several weeks and had to possibility to get connected to all people and get to know the life of each departments. After 1 year I was offered several positions and I chose to start working at sales department.

What is your current role and what makes it exciting?

As a NAM Local Modern Trade I am responsible for a team that manages the sales with the Hungarian local chains as well as the wholesalers. Exploring new business opportunities and Away from home business are also part of my current responsibility area. With my team together with the broader KAM team we are responsible to deliver the yearly Net Revenue targets on total company level as well as on partner level while keeping our trade spending within the given limits.

Being in this role I have the chance to work with colleagues of all departments as sales people need to have contact with each department of the company. This is such a great opportunity to get connected to almost all colleagues working at MDLZ Hungary. In this position I also have the possibility to formulate the company culture by being member of the local country management team. We also have connection with international colleagues. Not to talk about our business partners with whom we have daily relationship. So I need to connect people internally as well as externally and this makes my position so complex and at the same time so interesting

What personal qualities or skills make you successful in your position and what do you suggest for a candidate?

Good communication, presentation and negotiating skills are essential for my position. Strategic thinking and the ability to manage people and teams are also important to this role. The key I believe is how we connect to people, how we treat them and how we build good internal and external network. In order to be successful we need to be open to learn new things every day and we need to develop ourselves. I therefore participate in the life of the company as mentor and trainer as well and deliver even courses that are not my core area of responsibility, e.g. finance. We need to move out of our comfort zone as frequently as possible, that is the area where we learn the most and where we achieve big successes as well.

How has your career developed at MDLZ?

My career so far is quite one-sided, as this is my first company ever I have worked for and also only at sales department. After being management trainee for a year, I was KAM assistant for 2 years, then became KAM for 12 years and since 10 years I have been National Account Manager responsible for Modern Trade partners for 5 years and for Local Chains and wholesalers for 6 years now. I basically had the chance to work with all retailers and wholesalers that are present on the Hungarian market.

What do you like the best in the MDLZ?

What I love in this company is that life is never boring. Besides the fact that the markets and macroeconomic situation changes all the time, our partners change continuously and provide us challenges all the time, our company is changing quite frequently and provide us the chance to get to know new markets and categories. We can learn and develop ourselves all the time. It is really up to us how much energy we put to our development as opportunities are endless. And our company culture is really exceptional.

How do you describe the culture at the office?

The Hungarian company culture is just phenomenal and newcomers keep confirm it. We like each other, we support and develop each other. No matter how tough life is sometimes, we keep caring about each other and we deliver our commitments all the time with hard work and still having fun during our journey.

And finally, why do you continue to choose MDLZ?

I truly believe that our company will provide more and more opportunities to learn and develop in the future. I see that we will have more and more cross-functional and even international opportunities that can contribute to our personal development. And with those great colleagues we have in the organisation we will form an even better team and create great company culture that I want to contribute to and be part of it.