Tommy McCready

UK MARKETING MANAGER – RUM & TEQUILA PORTFOLIO, LONDON, UUJ GRADUATE

I graduated from the University of Ulster in 2012, with a Marketing degree.

This included one year in the states, studying and working in New Orleans, Louisiana. Straight out of college, I joined the Jameson Graduate Programme and spent two years on the ground in India. I was based mostly in the southern city of Bangalore, but travelled extensively between the major markets in Mumbai and Delhi. India is the world’s single biggest whiskey market, but it’s a nascent territory for Jameson which is just now beginning to make inroads. My time as an ambassador here was invaluable and instilled in me the basic tenets of spirits brand marketing. India is a bit off the beaten track as far as graduate programme placements go, but getting to grips with doing business in India was a cultural necessity and hugely rewarding professional challenge.

In my final year of the graduate programme, I returned to the International Marketing Team in Dublin in a role working with our market teams across the world. This was invaluable experience, and allowed to later transfer into an area manager role, working to develop Jameson marketing plans across Canada, Europe, and North Africa. Most recently I have transferred over to the Jameson Portfolio team, where my role is focused on developing the strategy and assets around our more premium (expensive!) products.