This episode of TRI-POD, The Moodie Davitt Report video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group, features Toby Witte, Director of Global Travel Retail at world-renowned German drinks house Mast-Jägermeister.
Toby talks to co-hosts Roger Jackson (Dubai-based Managing Director at The SEVA Group-owned Organico Solutions) and Martin Moodie about his early life, career journey, business and personal values, and much else besides in a warm and insightful conversation.
Toby assumed his travel retail role in July 2021 after joining Mast-Jägermeister in 2012. The company’s flagship brand is, of course, Jagermeister, which by the end of pre-pandemic 2019 was the tenth-most popular international premium spirits brand in the travel retail channel. It also ranks in the world’s top ten spirits brands overall. A global powerhouse no less.
Toby reveals how his love of music led him to do some DJing after he left school before his father suggested in no uncertain terms that he should go to university instead to prepare himself for a proper job. This he duly did, studying business marketing and law before later landing his first role working for FIFA when the World Cup came to Germany in 2006 – more with a view, Toby admits, to getting free match tickets than anything else.
After the World Cup, with a burning interest in travel, he was about to head abroad in search of adventure. Then, as so often happens in successful career stories, fate intervened and Toby was offered a job in the spirits industry – in this case with Bacardi, managing events. The rest, as they say, is history. He talks about that subsequent journey and the innate curiosity that has always driven him in life and business.
But as always with TRI-POD, it’s not all about talking shop. As always we fly our guest on TRI-POD Airlines to our resident desert island (with offshore duty free status). What music would Toby listen to on the island, perhaps at night when the sun has long gone down and only the dark side of the moon can be made out in the night sky?
Hear about his pitch-perfect, age-old choice of reading material and his selection of a duty free item that Toby reckons would offer the perfect base for a margarita at sunset. Who would he choose as his three dinner companions for a select evening? Not surprisingly given his post-school background, music plays a prominent role. Get ready to party. Jägermeister-style, of course.
Previously on Tri-Pod
How a crazy dream came true – Mirabeau Founder Stephen Cronk
“I’m at war with unfairness” – Patrick Doyle, International Diplomatic Supplies Founder
In conversation with Lagardère Travel Retail’s Bruno Gouisset
In conversation with Lagardère Travel Retail Middle East’s Jacqui Davies
In conversation with Tim Young
Note: Would you like to appear with Roger and Martin on TRI-POD? Drop Martin Moodie a line at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com and we will be in touch.
