Tell us about your career. I started in the construction side of hospitality as NSW Project Manager for Michel’s Patisserie. But with a young family and being away from home so much, I decided to join my family’s business, managing bistros in clubs. We then moved to the Gold Coast where I managed the Mantra Hotel Group across Queensland. When we came back to Sydney for family reasons, I joined Bunzl’s hospitality team and never looked back.
What does your role at Bunzl involve? I am an accounts manager, looking after pubs, clubs and four- and five-star hotels in and around the Sydney CBD. But over the past 18 months, I’ve been working with a new client, Carnival Cruise Ships: an exciting and challenging opportunity that has helped me grow my skill set to another level. I thrive on building great relationships with my customers. Many of them are more like family members.
What’s the most interesting thing about your role? At the moment, the ever-changing world of COVID-19. In the hospitality industry, cleaning and hygiene have always been priorities, and I’ve taught restaurant staff over the years about the importance of process and procedure. In the current environment, my skills have had to be pushed to the next level so I can guide my customers.
Name one or two career highlights. They would have to be Carnival Cruises and Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel (below). When both these companies came on board, they were unsure about dealing with a new supplier, and they really put me through my paces and tested my ability to deliver. I was determined to do backflips, and backflips I did to build trust and confidence in Bunzl.
Contact Novak with your requirements: novak.kuzmanovic@bunzl.com.au
