Testimonial
Get a taste of what our employees are like...
We asked Paul Campbell, Vice President of Supply Chain, about his career in PepsiCo:
Q – So Paul, what exactly is your role?
A – Well I am responsible for the supply of concentrate to PepsiCo’s beverage customers – our bottlers – across North America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and part of Asia. This involves managing three manufacturing locations and the supply chain in to these global customers. I am also General Manager for PepsiCo Ireland, where I take responsibility for all PepsiCo’s employees even if they don’t work directly for me.
Q – And how long have you been with Pepsi?
A – I joined close on 15 years ago –starting in the UK snacks business making Doritos and French Fries. I worked in the UK for about 11 years in a variety of roles – working in a plant and then running a plant, planning the supply chain and interfacing with our key customers. I was involved in some acquisitions and then some project work and finished up running the manufacturing for Pepsi in the UK, covering Walkers Crisps and Snacks, Quaker Oats and Tropicana Juice.
Q – So how did you get in to Operations then Paul?
A – I graduated with an Engineering degree in Metallurgy and Materials science and began working for Shell in their oils and chemicals manufacturing business as a mechanical engineer. This gave me a great technical grounding but I wanted to get more exposure to managing people and a broader business perspective. So I did a management qualification at evening class and then a distance learning MBA – some would say I couldn’t shake off my love of exams and was a glutton for punishment! But less the qualification more the content was my learning – it was a fantastic insight to management in the truest sense and has been a great help to me through my career. Whilst doing this I jumped ship and joined Unilever as the Chief Engineer at one of the Chemical Businesses which gave me fantastic exposure to managing change and working in a heavily unionised environment but I was still an engineer. So I started to look outside and was attracted by what Pepsi had to offer.
I am responsible for the supply of concentrate to PepsiCo’s beverage customers – our bottlers – across North America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and part of Asia. This involves managing three manufacturing locations and the supply chain in to these global customers.
- Paul Campbell
Q – So what is it that Pepsi gives you?
A – Wow – lots and I hope they get something back from me. But seriously though, the stand out for me is the people. Wherever I’ve worked there are always great people – the universal difference in Pepsi is the quality of people and their desire to do a great job is greater and more widespread than any other company I have worked in. Our people processes are very strong too – focused on business results obviously but, critically, our people results are weighted equally when we feedback on performance. We are also a company that consistently challenges itself to live up to its values and they are values I feel a very strong affinity to. And importantly I feel I make a difference every day and am given the autonomy to do a great job whenever I can.
Q – If you had one insight for people about from your career what would it be?
A – I’m afraid it's two – sorry. Focus on what YOU can influence not what you can’t as there’s little you can do about the stuff you can’t change. And from a career perspective, don’t be constrained by your own line of sight – we recruit people for a career not a job so if you limit your options to what you know and do right now you're limiting your career.
