Meet The Moodie Davitt Report team: Introducing International Account Manager Sonia Menezes : Moodie Davitt Report

The Moodie Davitt Report may bear the names of its Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and long-time President (and since 2015 Co-Owner) Dermot Davitt, but there is much more to the company than its two leaders.

Our diverse and inclusive, multi-talented, multi-cultural 24-member team (including regular freelancers and consultants) is based across numerous locations, including Hong Kong, Hainan, Ireland, Rhodes (Greece), Wales, England and the Philippines.

They speak eight languages between them and collectively represent the leading travel retail B2B publisher and events company with distinction across administration & finance, editorial, events, film, research, sales and technology.

We are pleased to introduce the team in this regular column. Please meet our Sheffield-based International Account Manager Sonia Menezes.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Sheffield, England, the middle child of three. We’re a diverse extended family through marriage and the Anglo-Indian diaspora, a wonderful mix of Indian, Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese, Italian and Jamaican.

As you can probably imagine, the choice of food at family events is off the scale.

**Sonia (back row second right) with family members at a recent wedding in Sicily**

I love where I live. Sheffield is on the edge of the beautiful Peak District. It’s a city for outdoor lovers with an ever-growing range of independent shops, bars and restaurants. The music scene and the city’s music heritage only add to its appeal.

I studied English Language and Literature at Sheffield University before joining United Distillers & Vintners, which later became Diageo.

**Happy times with colleagues at Diageo**

It was a fabulous place to work. When the portfolios merged, it opened up all the brands and I became involved with Guinness and Smirnoff and other premium spirits. The gin category was on the rise and alcopops began to decline. It was interesting to watch the shift in tastes, the increase in off-trade sales and what that meant in terms of sales split and profitability. Also, the growing restrictions in advertising.

I then joined Bacardi, which managed the Brown Forman portfolio during the three years I was there. I worked with the premium spirit brand teams heading up the consumer recruitment sales team. Together, we rolled out campaign and brand-building activity in the Top 100 bars & restaurants in the UK.

In 2006 I opted for a change, moving into the jewellery sector as Head of UK Sales with the successful Hot Diamonds brand. I enjoyed my time there but somehow missed the ‘heritage’ brands I had worked with. Every brand starts somewhere but I love the history behind the ones that have stood the test of time. In May 2010 I joined Welsh jewellery brand Clogau as their first Brand Manager, a role that developed quickly as sales grew.

**Going for gold: Sonia with colleagues and associates during a Fairtrade visit to mines in Peru**

Despite its very strong brand story and ties to the British monarchy, Clogau’s success was mainly within Wales, B2C and some presence on shopping channels and in travel retail. My objective was to reposition the brand, to make Clogau resonate with a much wider demographic; some of the most exciting projects were in travel retail.

I’ve been lucky to work with some fabulous people and on some great initiatives, including Fairtrade gold. I’ve also been part of groups focused on improving the prospects of women in industry.

**Sonia joins other ‘ambassadors’ encouraging women to thrive in the jewellery sector**

When did you join The Moodie Davitt Report?

Officially, in December 2024 but I had worked in the past with the Moodie Davitt editorial and event teams.

What is your role?

I am International Account Manager but the role, like the business, is a moving feast. The business never sleeps. Everyone in it is very responsive to industry developments and innovation is encouraged across all media platforms. We’re responsive to our brand partners and look for new ways in which to support them.

A highlight of your time with The Moodie Davitt Report?

I joined very recently so my highlights are something I’ll look forward to. However, I worked with the Moodie Davitt team to bring our Clogau ambassador to perform at The Moodie Report’s 10th Anniversary Charity Ball in Hong Kong in 2012.

**Striking the right chord: Royal harpist Claire Jones proved one of the highlights at The Moodie Report’s 10th Anniversary Charity Ball**

Claire Jones was formerly the official harpist to the Prince of Wales, now King Charles II. She had performed at the wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge the previous year, so it was a pleasure to have her perform at the event.

What is your approach to work, your business philosophy?

I believe long-term visions keep everyone together and motivated while long-term objectives are limiting and age quickly. Agility is everything in terms of strategic thinking and action. That’s how I work.

I also take feedback and criticism professionally, not personally.

What is it that makes you tick?

Progress.

Your positive/negative traits?

I’m now more empathetic rather than sympathetic towards people and situations. The latter doesn’t mean much but the former makes my responses better and hopefully more helpful.

Patience is a virtue that I’m still working on!

How important are leisure time and out of work interests?

They’re vital. I don’t see them as mutually exclusive from work. I read a lot and I enjoy travelling. Those are two things which make a role like this very rewarding.

**Making the most of leisure time: Sonia on a trek to the Mount Everest Base camp and (below) during an annual girls’ trip to the Cheltenham Gold Cup**

A must-have in duty free?

Skilled sales people. With High Street department stores fast becoming obsolete, I see duty free as a place to discover or re-discover brands.

I like to get to the airport well ahead of take-off so I can browse. Brand counters in duty free are places where I can try cosmetics, fragrance and other items like small electronics. This beats any online shopping experience and having a conversation with an advisor who knows their product helps me to make an informed decision.

I found my favourite perfumes in duty free: Escentric Molecules 01 and Maison Margiela Untitled.

And a desert island choice of music and book – or something else?

I’d take Julio, my dog, my MacBook and some sort of solar charging device.