Creating a future in Sales worth celebrating: A conversation with Marvin
06 Dec 2024 Europe and Turkey Learning and Development Luxury Sales
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We have many reasons to celebrate in our Southern Europe market; the beautiful 40,000km Mediterranean coastline, key tourist hotspots, and a real opportunity for growth for both our Tequila portfolio and our latest aperitif innovation, Venturo.
We spoke to Marvin, Regional Manager, North East and Organised Trade Manager, on his career journey and what this new innovation means to him.
Q. Tell us about your current role at Diageo and what’s most exciting about it?
My current role is Regional Manager North East Italy and Hybrid Sales Italy. I’m fortunate to do what I love every day - to listen, support, and encourage my passionate team to always give their best, celebrating the results achieved but above all the efforts made. The secret lies in finding the right balance between coaching the team to challenge their boundaries, encouraging initiative, and generating learning opportunities.
What makes me most proud is seeing the team sharing ideas, taking on responsibilities, experimenting, and finding innovative solutions to create winning strategies that have a direct impact on market performance and our company's results.
Q. What’s special about working in sales at Diageo?
I find nothing more rewarding than the connection and interaction with people every day, whether with clients or colleagues. Building authentic relationships with clients, anticipating their needs, and understanding new market challenges to find shared solutions, while maintaining excellent distribution and execution quality, makes the job really special. My background as a bartender and brand ambassador has given me a unique perspective; every meeting is an opportunity to convey my passion for the industry and our brands.
Q. How did your career path evolve and lead to your current role?
My career has followed a path of constant growth within the alcohol industry. I started working with spirits during university, as a bartender in clubs and hotels. This helped me develop skills in mixology and customer service. I joined Diageo in 2018, managing venue relationships, which deepened my passion for our products and consumers. I then moved into revenue management, working with beverage wholesalers across Italy, refining my sales and marketing strategies, leading to my current role in people management.
The connection with my life purpose, ‘be a good wave in the chaos of life,’ has helped me face challenges with a positive attitude, resilience, and adaptability. Working for Diageo also offers the chance to grow internationally, motivating me to improve and make a difference both in Italy and potentially in other markets.
Q. What skills/capabilities have helped you thrive?
I am results-driven, curious, and have a solid analytical background from engineering studies. I manage pressure well, maintain a positive attitude, and value relationship-building. A learning mindset is crucial; I admit what I don’t know and work hard to learn quickly. Ambition drives me to give my best, inspired by the advice to ‘be like a spring’—the more I invest in hard work and growth, the greater the success I can achieve.
Q. Tell us about a recent campaign or project and what you learned?
I am proud of contributing to the launch of the Hybrid Sales project in Italy, which embodies innovation and digitalization—core values for Diageo. This project developed a hybrid approach with customers through various channels, fostering growth opportunities and strategic collaboration. It improved my business planning, resilience, and problem-solving skills. I loved seeing ideas turn into reality quickly and collaborating across countries.
Q. What does the "Venturo" brand mean to you?
It’s the feeling of relaxation on a Mediterranean beach with a sea breeze, sharing moments with loved ones. Venturo is more than an aperitif; it’s an invitation to celebrate life’s special moments. I am proud to be part of this historic launch, as Venturo represents our ability to dream big and create something truly unique.
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