A day in the Life

Name: Michael Bernie

Company: Heineken Ireland

I am the Heineken Quality and Sales Manager for the South East Region covering an area that spans 11 counties with a team of 15 people. My top tip for the perfect quality pint is ensuring the outlet has ample “Beer Clean” glassware for their busiest night of the week.

What time do you get up on a week day?

Typically, I get up at 6.30am.

Typical breakfast?

A bowl of Flahavans porridge.

Do you commute or work from home?

It’s a mixture of working from my home o ce and being in trade with my Quality and Sales team.

How long have you been in your current job?

I’ve worked in Heineken for 22 years and I’ve just completed my fourth year in this role.

What does a typical day at work include?

My day revolves around supporting my team to ensure they have everything they need to play their part in achieving the overall Heineken on-trade ambition. This includes meeting our publican customers, one-to-ones with our reps and internal meetings with our Marketing, Customer Service and our Customer Technical Services teams. This is all to ensure we are delivering top quality service, beer and o ers to our customers and consumers.

Who is your favourite politician and why?

They say politics is local so I look to the politicians in my constituency who can ensure we have the best schools, sporting facilities and employment in my home county of Wexford, and, especially my home town of Gorey.

Who is the most annoying celebrity in your opinion?

Those “celebrities” that have had their 15 minutes of fame and are now clinging on desperately to maintain it!

What is the best ad (apart from the brand’s you represent) I like the Cadbury’s chocolate ad’s where people show their appreciation and love for someone by buying them a bar of chocolate. The kids’ footballs landing in the neighbours backgarden was my favourite one!

Worst ad on television?

Domino-Who-Who!

What is your favourite drink?

A cold pint of Heineken in “beer clean” glass with a perfect head (thumb height from the top of the glass) and beautiful lacing down the sides as you drink it! Yum!

If you had to pick three famous people to have a drink with, who would they be?

Don Deasy (the Galway soccer fan), Barrack Obama, David Walliams

Favourite no/low brand on the market?

A pint or glass of Heineken 0.0 – when it’s chilled and presented perfectly in the pub. It really is the best.

Favourite pub in Ireland and abroad?

A few of my favourites are Frenches in Gorey, An Púcan in Galway and Morans in Westport. Abroad, McSorleys in New York is a great night out.

Best pub for grub?

The brunch in the clubhouse in Mount Juliet is fantastic. The House Pasta in Katie Daly’s in Gorey is hard to beat. The Crown in Wexford has a great pub grub menu as does The Martello in Bray and Kazbar in Waterford.

Achievement you are most proud of?

Being at the forefront of the team involved in delivering perfect pints of Heineken at all of our brilliant music and sporting events across the South East of Ireland throughout the summer season.

Favourite saying?

You can only control the controllables! n