brendan downey-parish

general manager sales and marketing nz

Brendan joined Cerebos in 2006, arriving with an impressive amount of marketing and sales experience gathered in the beverages, smallgoods, petfood and dairy product sectors.

In addition to working in New Zealand, his professional history includes seven years in the Middle East, where he learned the marketing necessity of really understanding your consumers.

Passionate about ensuring that consumers' needs are at the heart of the organisation, Brendan will often remind colleagues that it doesn't matter what we think about a new product or campaign, it's what consumers think that counts. He has a three-pronged approach to his job. Firstly, he does everything in his power to enhance consumer relationships with Cerebos brands; secondly, he's right behind our innovation programme, because 'new products are key to our success in the next three years'; and thirdly, he likes to make work fun. However, Brendan's colleagues know that he shouldn't be approached in the morning until he has had his first cup of coffee.

When not at work, Brendan is an avid armchair and sideline sports commentator, much to the embarrassment of his school-age son and daughter. His other passions are food and wine, and he can often be found surfing the net in search of bargains to boost his cellar. This love of wine and food also explains his irregular bursts of running and cycling.