Preston Marra

Key Responsibilities

The National Field Operations Manager is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing, optimizing, and driving field operations across the Mondelez NZ enterprise. This role ensures seamless collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, delivering operational excellence and aligning field activities with the organization’s strategic objectives. A highlight of 2024 was being awarded the Commercial Excellence Award for the year at end of year prize giving, the most prestigious award in the business.

• Develop and execute the national field operations strategy to support business objectives.
  Align field operations with enterprise-wide goals, ensuring cross-functional synergy.
  Monitor and report on key performance metrics to stakeholders.
• Lead initiatives to enhance operational performance and drive continuous improvement through insights and data.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., sales, marketing, supply chain, HR) to align field operations with organizational goals.
  Act as the primary liaison with external stakeholders, including customers and suppliers.
• Build, develop, and manage a high-performing field operations team. Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for team members. Promote a culture of trust, courageous conversations which leads to accountability, innovation, and excellence.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks, implementing robust processes. Maintain a focus on safety and compliance in all field activities.
• Develop and manage the field operations budget, ensuring alignment with financial goals. Identify opportunities for cost savings and resource optimization.

Joined the team with full responsibility for Sales and bring distribution back in house for the first time in 5 years

• Negotiated and closed agreements with large customers and monitored and analyzed performance metrics.
• Initiated Self Distribution
• Change Management
• Set Strategy
• Attended events, training seminars, and manufacturer product showcases.
• Onboarding team
• Coaching and Development
• Marketing Focus – Misty Miyagi6pk now best-selling product of Q422
• Launched Oct22
• In conjunction with operations manager have developed and initiated an S&OP process for forecasting

• Full responsibility for the WWNZ relationship with a team of two, the full P&L and team development
• Awarded WWNZ Supplier of the year2021 for Snacking, Beverage, and Breakfast
• Achievement of both NSV and GM targets for all three years with the business
• Increased share across the following categories over the last two years at Frucor:
• Shelf Stable Juice
• Energy
• Chilled Juice
• Water
• Maintained strong relationship with customer implementing a strong JBP
• Actively drove a positive culture of trust and vulnerability
• This enables strong accountability and a highly productive team through collaborative behaviours
• Developed two Account Executives to Key Account Managers to new roles in business

• Joined as National Business Manager – Foodstuffs Corporate and AFH on the back of a recommendation from Foodstuffs management
• Key responsibility looking after Head Office relationship with a team of two
• Promoted into National Business Manager Foodstuffs with full responsibility (incl P&L) for Foodstuffs and AFH with a team of six, based on strong financial, operating, and team leadership performance
• Increased Sales Contribution in F16 by4.1%
• F17 implemented a cost-saving strategy which netted $700k, reducing trade-spend by12% while maintaining flat net sales
• Maintained strong relationship with customer gaining top third Advantage scores over last two years with business
• Actively drives a positive culture of accountability and focus on company goals through increased scrutiny on collaborative behaviors

• Working with Bluebird to broaden range of skills by working with an international market leader
• Coached a direct report
• Hit Annual targets in3 of4 years
• Implemented process change to in store co-op spend to drive greater efficiency
• Achieved through better alignment of investment with targets and a specific outcome of great accountability and ROI
• Overall, Coal Face score of93 (out of one hundred)

• Approached to join the Goodman Fielder Small Goods team to drive the Foodstuffs team, managing iconic brands such as Kiwi, Brooks, Sizzlers and Hutton’s
• Forecasting accuracy bias +/-5% – a key to success in any short shelf live product
• Grew Christmas indent process year on year through strategy and store engagement that increased ranging and installed a competitive promotional program

• Started at Delmaine as a Territory Manager for the Wellington/Hutt Valley region, then promoted to the team in Auckland as Key Account Manager for both Foodstuffs Auckland and Progressive
• PEL Key Account Manager of the Year2008 for Chilled
• 20%+ Growth Year on year
• Successful NPD implementation
• Tinned Beans
• Ready Meals