Doherty Blogs - Get To Know The Team

We're introducing our team through a new blog series sharing their stories, expertise and what motivates them everyday. Get to know the people behind the Doherty Group.

Hi, I’m Jessica, I am a student at Ulster University and for my third year of study I am currently doing my placement year as a Marketing assistant at the Doherty Group. 

I wanted to take a placement year to gain hands-on experience and learn from such an experienced and knowledgeable team, while continuing to develop my skills in marketing. This is what initially attracted me to the Doherty Group. The company has a strong reputation, a diverse range of brands and a clear commitment to growth and innovation. From my research, it seemed like a place where I would have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and develop my skills in a real business environment.

The interview process further reinforced that feeling. Going into any interview can be nerve-wracking, (and trust me I was very nervous) but the team at the Doherty Group immediately made me feel comfortable and at ease. Rather than feeling like a formal interrogation, the interview felt comfortable and natural. Gerardette, Catherine and Peter interviewed me and were so friendly, approachable, and interested in getting to know me as a person, not just as a candidate. I left the interview feeling excited about the possibility of joining the team.

I was delighted when I was offered the placement and officially started on the 1st of June 2026. I have already learned so much and already have been able to create new opportunities to develop my marketing knowledge, gain practical experience, and understand how marketing operates within a successful business.

One of the things that has stood out most to me is the office environment. From day one, everyone has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. Starting a new role can be daunting, and I was very nervous as I hate being the new person, but the team made me feel comfortable and part of the company straight away. There is a great balance between professionalism and fun.

Some of my favorite experiences during the placement so far have been attending the Ballymoney Show, where I had the opportunity to capture content and create promotional videos showcasing our products. I also enjoyed visiting Kumiko Cat Lounge, a cat café where we spent time with the cats while creating content for our Pure Pets brand. These experiences have allowed me to develop my content creation skills, gain hands-on marketing experience, and see firsthand how engaging content can help bring a brand to life.

I am grateful for the opportunity to complete my placement year at The Doherty Group and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.

• What keeps you motivated at work?

   

I'd like to say it's my passion for marketing, but honestly, the sweets and chocolate around the office help keep me going!

Hi, I'm David, and I'm the Brand Development Manager for the Pure Pets range here at the Doherty Group. My role focuses on developing and growing our Pure Pets range, which currently includes wood-based cat litter and small pet bedding products. 

On a day-to-day basis, my responsibilities include spending a lot of time generating new leads and building relationships with customers, as well as providing customer service from the point an order is placed right through to delivery. I'm also involved in brand development and procurement, helping to ensure our products continue to meet the needs of our customers. 

A typical day usually starts with catching up on emails and following up with potential customers and new leads. In the afternoons, you'll often find me out making deliveries to customers, organising trade shows when they're coming up, or carrying out research on topics related to the business. 

I joined Doherty Group two months ago after spending 32 years with a major pet retailer. I started there as a sales assistant and worked my way up to store manager. After more than three decades in the same company, I felt it was time for a new challenge. The opportunity to work for a family-run business and support a local business that really appealed to me, and it's been a great move so far.

The skills I think are most important in my role are being proactive, following up on opportunities, and building strong relationships with customers. Being approachable, outgoing, fun, and willing to react quickly to the needs of the business are all qualities that help me succeed in what I do. 

One of the things I enjoy most about working at Doherty Group is the people. We have a great team, and everyone is passionate about their role. The variety of the job is another big positive—every day brings something different to work on.

When I'm not at work, I enjoy camping, hiking, and watching anything car-related on YouTube. I'm more of a night owl than an early bird, although I still can't get through a workday without a cappuccino in the morning!

As for office life, if I could ban one thing forever, it would probably be the Bridgerton piano songs on the Alexa! And if my colleagues had to describe me in three words, I'd hope they'd say caring, energetic, and switched on.

I'm looking forward to helping grow the Pure Pets range and continuing my journey with the Doherty Group team.

Hi, I'm Peter, the Marketing and Innovation Manager at Doherty Group.

I joined the company as a Marketing Executive just over two and a half years ago, but over time I found myself drawn towards innovation. I enjoy looking at how we work and identifying the small—sometimes not-so-small—changes that can make a real difference. Whether that's improving efficiency or helping teams gain better insights, I love finding ways to make things work better.

On a day-to-day basis I work across teams to deliver small improvements that can help them with their work, even if they don’t thank me for them initially! Sometimes that can be easier ways to collect or track data, sometimes it can be larger systems designed to future proof the business and help us grow. Things like product development and sustainability also play a part in my role, and these will be a big focus going forward. 

Being from a dairy farming background and having a degree in Agriculture, a big appeal was to work for a company that connected me to my roots but would allow me to grow into a role that worked for me. At university I had a keen interest in sustainable grassland management so being able to work for a company focused on sustainable animal bedding, particularly for dairy cows, was massively appealing. 

Looking back, if someone had told me ten years ago that I would become an Innovation Manager, I probably would have asked, "What's that?" The role here at the Doherty Group gave me the space to grow and learn that innovative thinking and making improvements was something I loved doing and I’ve now been given free rein to make that happen.

Alongside innovation projects, I continue to support our marketing activities. Since Jessica joined the team as Marketing Assistant, we've been working together on campaigns, promotional projects, and a variety of marketing initiatives across the business.

If I had to pick the three most important skills for my role, I'd say adaptability, problem-solving, and a good dose of patience are needed. It is very rare for things to work first time so not being too put off by setbacks helps!

My Career Journey

Before joining Doherty Group, I worked across both the agriculture and pet sectors in roles including Marketing Assistant, E-Commerce Executive, and Product Specialist. Those positions gave me experience across marketing, digital platforms, product development, and research.

Of course, my first experience of work came much earlier than that—growing up and working on a dairy farm. That background gave me a strong understanding of the products, customers, and industry that I work with today.

My very first professional role was as a Marketing Assistant at Germinal, where I started building the skills that eventually led me to where I am now.

What I Enjoy Most About Working Here

It might sound like a cliché, but the people really are what I enjoy most about working at Doherty Group.

We have a great team, and we're good at bringing out the best in each other. Although we're a relatively small business, there's a huge amount of ambition around what we want to achieve. That combination creates an environment where you feel like your work genuinely matters and where you can make a real difference.

The Most Rewarding Part of My Job

The most rewarding moments are usually the ones that come after a lot of frustration.

When you've spent weeks working on a project, encountered every possible issue along the way, and finally get everything working exactly as it should, there's a real sense of achievement. Those moments make all the setbacks worthwhile.

Advice for Anyone Starting Their Career

I was fortunate enough to find a company that gave me the freedom to grow into a role that suited my strengths and interests.

My advice would be to spend time figuring out what you genuinely enjoy doing. Pay attention to the tasks that give you a sense of satisfaction or the moments in your day that you look forward to. Once you've identified those things, try to build a career around them.

You'll always work harder and perform better when you're doing something you enjoy.

Quick Fire Questions

Tea or coffee?
Tea.

Early bird or night owl?
Definitely an early bird.

Favourite app?
Spotify.

One thing I can't get through the workday without?
A checklist.

Who eats the office snacks the fastest?
I think it's a close contest between Owen and David, although Jessica might be a dark horse. Time will tell.

Who would survive longest on a desert island?
I'd put my money on David. His hiking and camping experience would come in handy.

Who wouldn't survive?
Owen. Having nothing to do would drive him completely mad.

If I were one of our products, which would I be?
Sublime. It's familiar with dairy cows, solves a problem, and likes to do things differently.

Which colleague would make the best contestant on The Traitors?
Catherine. No hesitation.

Which colleague would survive a zombie apocalypse?
Rolandas.

If I was stranded on a desert island with one colleague, who would I choose?
Donna. I think we'd get along well enough that neither of us would be plotting the other's downfall after a few days.

Looking Ahead

One of the things I enjoy most about my role is that there's always another challenge to tackle and another opportunity to improve something. Whether it's innovation, sustainability, product development, or marketing, I'm excited to continue helping Doherty Group grow and evolve in the years ahead.

Hi, I’m Catherine, the Business and Development Manager at Doherty Group! 

My Role 

I have been with the company just over a year and what an adventure it has been so far!

As Business Development Manager, my primary responsibility is to drive growth across the business. To do this, I spent my first few months getting to know our customers by travelling to every corner of Ireland to meet with our distributors. I wanted to understand exactly what was happening on the ground.

What were people saying about our products? Who were our main competitors? What feedback were farmers giving us? Was our pricing competitive? How could we improve our service and lead times?

Gathering this information gave me a solid understanding of the market and allowed me to make informed decisions on how we could structure our customer portfolio, strengthen existing relationships, and identify opportunities to bring our products into new markets.

A typical working week 

No two weeks are ever the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role.

A typical week involves working closely with our sales team, who are on the ground speaking directly with distributors and customers. They keep me up to date with customer feedback, market trends, competitor activity, and how our pricing is positioned in the marketplace. This daily insight helps me make wider strategic decisions and guide the direction of the business.

I also work closely with our transport, marketing, and accounts teams. Every department plays a crucial role in delivering an excellent customer experience and customer satisfaction remains at the heart of everything we do.

When I'm not in the office, you'll often find me attending agricultural events and open days, where I get the opportunity to speak directly with farmers and understand their needs. I also meet regularly with our key accounts to ensure we continue to build and strengthen those important relationships.

My Career journey and why I joined Doherty Group

Before Doherty Group, I completed a degree in Finance and spent four years in an investment bank so I can see why a lot of people ask, ‘how did you end up in Doherty Group’?

I always felt there was something missing. While I enjoyed the challenges of banking, I didn’t have a genuine passion for the industry. 

Agriculture, however, was different. Through my part-time work with Dale Farm Ltd over ten years, I gained a real appreciation for the vital role farmers play in our society and the significant contribution they make every day. That experience sparked an interest that continued to grow throughout my career.

Joining Doherty Group gave me the opportunity to work in an industry I genuinely care about. It allows me to work closely with farmers across the dairy, poultry, and equine sectors, helping provide products that improve animal comfort, welfare, and productivity. There's something incredibly rewarding about knowing that the work we do has a positive impact on both farmers and their animals.

Developing People and building teams

One of the most rewarding experiences over the past year has been building and developing our sales team.

I've had the opportunity to recruit new team members and support them as they begin their journey within the business. Watching people grow in confidence, develop their understanding of our products and customers, and ultimately succeed in their roles is a privilege.

I believe in giving people the support and respect they need while also creating the space for them to grow and flourish in their own way. Seeing others reach their potential is something I find incredibly fulfilling and is one of the aspects of leadership I enjoy most.

Career Advice 

It is never too late to take a chance on the path you really want to follow.

That change might not happen today or tomorrow, but you can start taking small steps now that move you closer to where you want to be. Every opportunity, experience, and challenge can become a stepping stone towards a career where you can be your best self.

Don't be afraid to pivot if something no longer feels right. Sometimes the most rewarding opportunities lie on the other side of the decision you are hesitant to make.

Take the chance, trust the process, and back yourself.