Geraldine Penney - Product manager

I work in what was Avonmore's consumer product division on the Long Mile Road in Dublin. My area of responsibility is cheese and chilled foods - that is soup and our new range of sauces. I work in a multifunctional team and liaise with food technologists, quality control personnel and people in production, sales and accounts.

For example, I was involved in identifying a niche in the market for our new range of sauces, writing the business proposal and ensuring that the product would fit in with our production processes. Once the product had been developed, I then liaised with the sales team and the packaging designers. The aim is to develop a product of the highest quality which has the optimum level of customer convenience.

I studied marketing at the DIT College of Marketing and Design and then did a masters in marketing in TCD. My first job was marketing manager with the Ailwee Caves in Co Clare and then I became retail sales manager with Potterton Myson.

The life span in brand management is limited and it's time to move on. Recently a position came up within the group. Next Monday I fly to Munroe, Wisconsin, as sales and marketing manager in food ingredients at our operation there. My new job will include a big sales role. I will be selling food ingredients directly to manufacturers. It will be very specific, targeted work and my role will be more specialised.

My new job is a big challenge. I will be getting a lot of training in food ingredients. It's a good way to move on though. I know everyone in the company at home and it's nice to work for an organisation where there is progression.