RISING STARS
Chris Ottaway
Head of distributed brands Telegram Co .
C hris Ottaway has been an instrumental in accelerating Telegram Co ’ s growth over the years .
From a wholesale perspective , he leads the organisation ’ s sales and brand relationships , which cover over 1200 retailers across Australia and New Zealand and ranges from large-format retailers like Officeworks , David Jones and Myer , to single door operators and independent retailers . He has also launched the brand ’ s B2B sales channel , Milligram Corporate and Bespoke , which creates special customised products for corporate clients .
Described as a “ safe pair of hands ”, Chris ’ commercial acumen and relationship-building skills have helped him manage the wholesale side of the business , while his entrepreneurial skills enabled him to launch the brand ’ s B2B sales arm successfully .
One of the things he enjoys most about working in the retail industry is the constant change and evolution . He likes getting out of his comfort zone , enjoys the dynamism of the industry and embraces the challenges that come with it .
When asked about the proudest moments in his career , Chris points out his ability to step up and into different roles . In the next five years , he sees himself continuing in a role that challenges him while still allowing him to add value through his skills and experiences .
“ Stepping into people management positions means that you quickly realise that you are only as good as the team who work with you . I have been lucky to see those people flourish in their careers and go onto bigger and better things which has been incredibly rewarding ,” Chris said .
Ashleigh Gardiner
Head of data & product My Muscle Chef
A shleigh Gardiner has been a driving force behind My Muscle Chef ’ s success . With six years of experience at the company , she oversees data centralisation and analysis , manages two teams and is responsible for providing insights to various teams to help them make better decisions .
Colleagues say Ashleigh never shies from a challenge and is known for always finding a way to make things happen , through creative , out-of-the-box thinking .
As a leader , Ashleigh aims to equip her team with the information , tools and support they need to deliver outcomes . She said that her neurodivergence enables her to make connections that others might not see , and she is passionate about creating a work environment that is focused on people ’ s strengths . Ashleigh is proud to have enabled analytics across all functions of My Muscle Chef , including implementing machine learning , predictive analytics and platforms that enable data activation .
Looking to the future , Ashleigh is passionate about helping people improve data literacy , and continuing to contribute to the business ’ success .
“ The retail industry is customer focused , and there are no limits to what can be achieved to improve customer experience ,” she said . “ It ’ s exciting to continually use data to innovate , make predictions and contribute to overall business success .
“ I ’ m passionate about empowering our team further , building our digital product function and continuing to deliver on business goals .”
66 | www . insideretail . com . au May 2023