Fiona Layhe

You joined us in 2010. What has been your career path at Imperial since then?

I began my career at Imperial as a Retail Development Representative where I was able to take advantage of the development opportunities we have available, and was identified on a succession plan. This enabled me to get involved in projects which gave me a lot of experience, opening the path for me to become successful in securing an Area Business Manager (ABM) role in the UK. I’m currently working as an ABM across Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire.

What opportunities do you have to work with others in your role?

As an Area Business Manager, I have the opportunity to work with individuals in a variety of roles. It’s important that I have close relationships with other ABMs across the country – this allows us to have a support system in each other, enabling us to share best practices and successes.

I also have a close working relationship with the Trade Marketing team which enables me to influence future strategies and it gives them a closer insight into our customers and retailers. The sharing of this knowledge helps both areas succeed.  

Working closely with HR is also important to me, as it allows me to ensure the wellbeing of my team and to best deal with any challenges.

How do you ensure your team stays connected with one another in these field-based roles?

Having a field-based team often creates challenges in cultivating a true team culture. This team culture is really important to our success. To ensure I create this I have a weekly team catch-up online where everyone can input into the agenda. When possible we also have two in-person meetings each quarter. I encourage and empower the team to find solutions to their challenges, which drives them to reach out to other team members and members of the wider business.