Karl

• Karl
  Business Development Manager
• Charlotte
  Trading Assistant
• Gareth
  Distribution Operations Manager
• Michael
  Procurement Manager
• Geri
  Business Analyst
• Caroline
  Festive Plush Buyer
• Raj
  Buying Manager
• Caroline
  People Director
• Craig
  Buying Manager
• Feroz
  General Store Manager
• Martha
  Head of General Merchandise Marketing
• Emma
  Head of Food Business Development, Finance Team
• Andrew
  Transport Operations Manager

Karl
Business Development Manager
ASDA House

I’m Karl and I joined ASDA straight from UMIST (the University of Manchester) on the graduate programme three years ago.

I was attracted to ASDA because I saw it as a company where I could build a long term career, experience many different sides of the business and get the support I needed to study for a CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualification.

For the first 18 months I was with the Trading Accounts Team getting to know all about ASDA’s financial systems, especially relating to the Bakery and Produce departments. From there I moved to Logistics Finance, which was a complete change and had its own very different ways of working and measures of success. Now I’m in Business Development - I find this really exciting because it gives me a wider business perspective on the way forward for ASDA.

Something I’ve really valued on the graduate programme is the six-monthly career direction review, which is an open discussion with my managers about our expectations of each other and my objectives for the next half year. I also find my weekly catch up with my Line Manager incredibly useful for gauging my performance and working on my development areas.

There’s an amazing team spirit working at ASDA. Everyone really is on the same side pulling together to deliver the best support for our stores, and the best value for our customers. As an Accountant, we keep our eyes firmly fixed on the bottom line always whilst being totally involved in every aspect of our business performance in every step of the way.

It’s also a place that’s full of surprises. For example I never imagined I’d find myself playing ‘It’s a Knockout’ as a team building exercise with my colleagues – but I just have!