An Ashby woman has been appointed as the new general manager at Amazon's Coalville fulfilment centre.

Tracey Foster - originally from Durham - will oversee operations at the Coalville hub, which opened its doors in 2016.

She graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) with a degree in mechanical engineering and later embarked on a career spanning more than two decades with PepsiCo.

At PepsiCo, Tracey worked in manufacturing, logistics, transport, and warehousing for the company's snack products.

She progressed through the organisation to eventually lead two sites in the north east and north west, as well as overseeing transformational projects.

Following her long career at PepsiCo, Tracey wanted to try something new and joined drinks business William Grant & Sons, to oversee its bottling operations in Scotland, Ireland, Mexico and the US. In this position, Tracey was also on the company's board of directors.

Tracey joined Amazon after being won over during the recruitment process.

She said: "As I got deeper into the recruitment process, I understood more and more about Amazon, the opportunities here and the leadership principles.

"It felt so exciting and really resonated with me, and I jumped at the opportunity to join the company.

"I toured one of the new fulfilment centres in the north east and I realised that not only is Amazon really technologically advanced, but it's also really reliant on its brilliant people.

"This appealed to me because I love running businesses through people, but I also enjoy roles that push the boundaries of technology, and Amazon offers both.

"The learning potential for me here is huge, in two areas I care deeply about."

As someone with a long and successful career in what might be described by some as a male-dominated industry of manufacturing and logistics, does Tracey feel that being a woman has ever hindered her progress?

She added: "No, and I think that's because I genuinely believe that everyone should be treated equal, regardless of gender, background, beliefs, or anything else.

"Personally, I have a high bar and I seek perfection, so I surround myself with people who can help me achieve great things. I've always had the attitude that if someone has an issue with me being female, then it's their problem, not mine.

"I've always taken the view that I am here to do a job and I am as capable and able as the next person. I've never let being a woman get in the way for me and I've never felt discriminated against.

"My aim is to create a 'one team' culture – we are all together and we are all one team, with everyone playing their part. I want Amazon in Coalville to be the best place to be.

"That's my focus. I aspire to provide our team with the best possible experience, making this a great place to work. It's a real privilege for me to work alongside the team here at Amazon in Coalville and I am excited for all the great things we can achieve together."

For more information on applying for a permanent or seasonal role or apprenticeship at Amazon,click HERE.