Not so long ago Irina Rymarchuck got promoted Danone Ukraine Marketing Director. Tender, laconic, smiling delicately… What else do we know about her? Let’s meet Irina and discover how she became Marketing Director and her career journey within Danone.
“If someone had told me when I was a student that I would work in marketing, I would have laughed loudly. I was studying in a Linguistic Faculty and I was dreaming of a translator`s career! However, later on I understood that I wanted to work in an international company with wider career opportunities, more drive and dynamics.
In 2003 I started my career in Danone Ukraine as receptionist. I was hired mainly because of my English skills. I was told that this position was very good to have a global understanding of the company and figure out where I would you like to grow. My interest for marketing started then: it seemed very dynamic, all the time something is going on. In a year I was promoted to the position of assistant in marketing department. From then on I was growing fast: from junior brand manager to brand marketing manager in 5 years. Company was growing as well and I felt that I still had space to move on and grow.
After 7 years of work in Danone I understood that I wanted to become Marketing Director. But I was lacking experience: I should work in other Business Units, different contexts before claiming for Marketing Director position. So in 2011 I moved to Danone Belarus. It was quite an experience for me. The economic crisis hit us strongly: we needed to alter the marketing action plan to adapt to the fast changing context. And it worked! We were growing regardless of the crisis! It turns out that one may grow under any circumstances or crisis if managed correctly.
Within 9 months I was offered a position of Prostokvashino brand marketing manager in Russia. Even tough that meant moving to Moscow, I decided to accept this offer: Prostokvashino as traditional dairy brand was absolutely new world for Danone. At the beginning it was a little bit scary for me when I realized the scale of business (for instance Prostokvashino in Russia is produced on 22 plants!) and risks arising. However, it is the drive I like! And now I’ve got an opportunity to come back to Ukraine on the long awaited position of marketing director!”
What gets you up in the morning?
Irina Rymarchuck : My main motivation is our mission to increase quality of life and longevity of Ukrainians.
This is a commitment which crawls. This is more than business with social projects, it is a social mission. And it is business which is subordinated to the mission, not vice versa. I am always motivated by new challenges, new ambitious goals. They push the development. When you reach such a goal you feel true satisfaction and further motivation.
How would you describe Danone as a Company?
Irina Rymarchuck : It is the company to fall in love with. You fall in love with people, who work here (they all are great), atmosphere which is democratic, free and positive: you are welcome to make your choices.
Danone is the company were one may grow from the grass roots, this is a dynamic company where you may take risks. Some may not like this dynamism and fast moving environment; however it is our strategic benefit making us successful in our FMCG category. We see very promptly whether our action plans work or no. So we adapt actions and strategy to ever-changing circumstances.
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