Stuart Alexander & Co has appointed experienced FMCG leader Caroline Waite as the new CEO of the business for Australia and New Zealand.
Bringing a wealth of experience in both sales and marketing, Waite is set to lead the 140-year-old company into its next phase of growth and innovation.
Waite’s career journey spans across various sectors within the consumer industry, including healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). She began her career as a marketing graduate with Bayer Consumer Care, where she spent nearly eight years in various marketing roles. Her career then took her to Hong Kong, where she worked for a branding agency in the consumer space. Upon returning to Australia, she joined Frucor Suntory, spending a decade in marketing and sales roles, ultimately rising to the position of Sales Director for Australia.
Speaking to C&I, Waite shared her excitement about her new role at Stuart Alexander & Co, reflecting on her 12-month tenure with the company.
“The opportunity captures putting sales and marketing together for a broader leadership impact, which ultimately has been part of being appointed into this role.”
Describing her leadership style, Waite emphasised her passion for ideas and her focus on building strong teams.
“I’m a catalyst; I love ideas and am probably most known for my passion and energy. I lead with a broad team around me that can help turn ideas into actions and plans.
“I’m about building really good teams that can help execute your vision, because everyone has their limitations, including me. I like to lead from within the team, side by side with people that are doing great things. Ultimately in our business, it starts at the store and works back from there, so prioritising team on the front-line is a big part of what I’m about.”
Looking ahead, Waite’s vision for Stuart Alexander & Co involves leveraging the company’s unique position as a service provider in the consumer goods industry.
“We’re one of Australia’s oldest family-owned businesses, with a history of entrepreneurialism that has allowed us to evolve with the times. My vision is to help the business take the next step in that evolution.”
Waite highlighted the company’s role in taking other brands to market, providing a wide range of services beyond traditional distribution.
“There’s a lot of room for us to grow our service offer much broader. That unique spot in the middle has so much opportunity to further the business. We could really expand on any sort of level of service provision that meets the market need and the brand partner need.”
Waite’s appointment comes after Nick Nairn’s decision to step down, following eight years in the role of ANZ CEO. Waite and Nairn will work together to ensure a smooth transition before Nairn’s departure in mid-October.
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