Alex Hutchinson

CCU Controller

What does your job involve?
Managing a team of 18 people, split between Copy Planning and Supply Chain Development to ensure that our allocation (sales forecasting) process works as effectively as possible and that we deliver against the performance targets set for our key retail accounts.

What’s the highlight of your job so far?
As part of a recent re-structuring process we needed to recruit and train a whole new Copy Planning team of 13 people in a short period of time. The whole process was completed within a month of starting and the results that the team are now delivering show that we made the right decisions, and are a direct result of the determination on the team that work for me.

Name 3 things you couldn’t live without at work?
My PDA as my diary is always changing so I need to know where I am from day to day.
My laptop as it has copies of all the reporting data that we generate, which enables me to understand how we are performing.
My mug since we all stopped using plastic cups!

There are a whole host of factors which keep me coming to work but the two main ones have to be the people and the changing nature of the industry.

Describe what it’s like to work at Frontline
Challenging but fun!
Challenging in the sense than the industry is evolving so we need to find new ways of working and fun in the sense that everyone enjoys what they do and are passionate their roles.

What keeps you coming to work?
There are a whole host of factors which keep me coming to work but the two main ones have to be the people and the changing nature of the industry. One of the things that attracted me to Frontline was the culture of the business. The work/life balance is an important factor within the business and this is something that everyone values.

How did you get your job/how did you find out about your job?
I found the job at Frontline via an advert in the National Press and then went through a selection process with one of the recruitment agents used for Supply Chain appointments. Throughout the process it was absolutely clear that finding someone with the right values was just as important as finding someone with the right technical background.

What’s the first magazine you bought and why?
I think it would have been NME when I was going through my “music” phase as a teenager.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be involved in Motorsport, unfortunately the nearest I have ever got was a track day in a single seater!

What’s your favourite pastime when you are not working or studying?
When I’m not at work I am usually doing something with the family or out on my mountain bike somewhere in Rutland.

Mark O'Donovan

What does your job involve?
My role is to lead a team who have responsibility for defining and delivering the category management strategy to support Frontline’s business plan across all retailers and channels. We analyse and develop category, segment and title insight that allows Frontline to shape the magazine category. We continually review Frontline and our partner’s opportunities and threats through “Key” retailers to gain and retain range, space, distribution and quality of display for Frontline titles.

What’s the highlight of your job so far?
Being voted “Team Star” and nominated for Frontline achievement of the year in 2007

Name 3 things you couldn’t live without at work?
The constant office banter and joking, a regular supply of tea and access to emails

Describe what it’s like to work at Frontline
Very challenging but a lot of fun! The people really do make the difference.

Very challenging but a lot of fun! The people really do make the difference.

What keeps you coming to work?
The ability to make a difference and the support and tools to do this plus the autonomy to make decisions.

How did you get your job/how did you find out about your job?
I was alerted to the job at Frontline by an ex colleague at Tesco. I was very keen to move from retail to supply side. The recruitment process was very arduous yet professional and only increased my desire to join Frontline.

What’s the first magazine you bought and why?
The Beano which was probably bought for me. The first magazine I remember buying was Disco 45 the forerunner of Smash Hits and I am now an avid reader of all the music monthlies.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An architect. The length of study put me off so I ended up studying economics and politics instead!

What’s your favourite pastime when you are not working or studying?
Spending time with my family. Either watching or playing football. I coach my son’s junior football team and support Watford for my sins. Needless to say my son’s team performs better than Watford!

Jacky De-boo

HR Administrator

What does your job involve?
Top line, my role involves processing payroll, issuing contracts, offer letters. Updating any people changes, dealing with the company Maternity policy, monitoring absence and any ad hoc reports/ requests required by my team. In addition provide back ground support to the HR and HRDF Manager.

What’s the highlight of your job so far?
Passing my CPP (Certificate in Personal practice) last year. Didn’t think I could do it but I achieved my goal!

Name 3 things you couldn’t live without at work?
People great stimulant.
Coffee another great stimulant.
CIPD website (current legislation on all aspects of employment law located in one central point)

Describe what it’s like to work at Frontline
A great place to work. Sometimes mad, hectic but on the whole I believe Frontline advocate strong cultural values, we adopt a flexible informal atmosphere, allowing us to create a suitable work life balance.

A great place to work.

What keeps you coming to work?
The job of HR Administrator, which I thoroughly enjoy. Interacting with people, helping solve questions and queries. The varied aspects of the role mean that no two days are alike which keeps my motivational levels high.

How did you get your job/how did you find out about your job?
I started at Frontline 11 years ago as Frontlines’ Receptionist. Four years ago I was given the opportunity to join the Human Resources team which in those days was headed up by Tess O’Kane, and the rest as they say is history.

What’s the first magazine you bought and why?
A magazine call ‘Jackie’ full of pop gossip, girly makeup/fashion and soppy love stories. A must have for any impressionable 11 year old girl.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
To become a Hairdresser, this was my career for 20 years. It was a great opportunity to combine my creative skills along with an overall sense of fulfilment in making people look and feel good about themselves.

What’s your favourite pastime when you are not working or studying?
Enjoying a full bodied bottle of Beaujolais with my friends and family with the subtle tones of Mr Barry White playing in the back ground …sheer bliss!

Janine Walsham

Supply Chain Development Manager

What does your job involve?
Manage availability levels with Retail to ensure we optimise profitable sales opportunities. Work closely with Retail and Wholesale colleagues to identify and implement end-to-end supply chain process improvements. Working alongside out wholesale colleagues, I drive improvements to the SBR (sales based replenishment) offer for each account to optimise it's effectiveness.

What’s the highlight of your job so far?
In my current role, being part of the team that delivered almost £555,000 RSV added value to the business in 2007/08 In my time at Frontline, receiving a signed photograph from Rio Ferdinand for my help on Inside United Magazine!

Name 3 things you couldn’t live without at work?
Laptop, mobile phone and kettle

Describe what it’s like to work at Frontline
Challenging, interesting, fun, rewarding

What keeps you coming to work?
The people, the job satisfaction and the ever-changing challenges offered by our industry.

How did you get your job/how did you find out about your job?
A friend recommended Frontline as a ‘nice place to work’

What’s the first magazine you bought and why?
Patches – it was the ‘More’ of my teenage years

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to join the RAF!

What’s your favourite pastime when you are not working or studying?
Spending time with my family & coaching a junior netball club