Peter Chapman
Most recent experience: Customer strategy consulting for two global FMCG companies; Virtual Store expert – led design and delivery of Coke’s first global facility in London, and consulted on design for two other global FMCG companies; Head of Shopper Marketing for Coca-Cola Enterprises; Board member for two companies (both executive)
Previous experience: Sales team leader for P&G with the Co-Operative Group; Commercial controller for Pringles and Pampers for P&G Europe; Brand Manager and National Account Manager for P&G UK; Light Infantry Officer (operated in Northern Ireland; Bosnia, Belize, Germany and Canada)
Education: Awarded a Scholarship to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; Languages degree (French and Russian) from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge; Qualified coach with ACE (Academy of Coaching Excellence)
An interview with Peter
What is your area of specialty?
Developing business strategies that work for both Brands and the Customers who sell them, ie for both the Marketing and Sales functions.
What motivates you most in your role?
The satisfaction you get from enabling a team to step out of their comfort zone, stretch for a goal and then be pleasantly surprised when they achieve it.
What is the biggest challenge? How do you overcome that?
Mixing an ambitious vision on paper with the pragmatic reality of the outside world. Marketeers working inside their comfort zone dream up wonderful visions that never happen, while their sales teams get conditioned to work only with tried and trusted mechanics. The way forward is to encourage each to learn a little about the other’s role. Through collaboration they get the best from both worlds.
What’s been your greatest success to date?
Inspiring and creating the first Virtual Store facility for Coca-Cola globally, a wonderful piece of technology that makes it easy for marketeers and salespeople to work better together. It has already inspired replica facilities in 2 other continents.
Who is your business hero?
It is corny – but I admire Richard Branson for being ruthless and driven when needed, yet managing to maintain a personable and down to earth manner with a large dose of charisma.
Give us your nugget quote…
‘never put off until tomorrow, that which you can do today’
