Pierre Ernst

Marketing & Brand Activation | JTI | AEHL

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

About

Marketing and brand activation professional early in my career, driven by curiosity about what makes a consumer experience feel effortless, consistent, and memorable. At JTI, I work as a Trade Journey Associate, helping turn plans into real in market execution across trade visibility, engagement, education, and incentive initiatives. I coordinate stakeholders, track budgets, consolidate performance data, and keep activations moving smoothly at point of sale. I joined through a cross functional traineeship with rotations in Strategic Insights and Brand Marketing (Ploom). In SI, I supported Swiss market and consumer analysis and translated imperfect data into practical takeaways for stakeholders. In Ploom, I supported the Swiss launch of Ploom Aura, gaining a true 360° view of brand building across trade up mechanics, communications, legal alignment, budgeting, SAP, digital touchpoints, and consumer testing, in a startup like environment within a global organization. Outside of work, my international background fuels a strong passion for visual arts and a keen interest in cultures and experiences, and I gravitate toward hospitality and automobiles, where the product is the experience and small details make a big difference.

Experience

  • Trade Journey Associate at JTI
    Feb 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    • Support execution of trade & brand activations (visibility, engagement, education, incentives) • Coordinate rollouts across a nationwide retail network (assets, timelines, approvals) • Develop materials deployed at thousands of points of sale (confidentiality-safe phrasing) • Track budgets, POs, and invoices; flag risks and keep projects on track • Consolidate field feedback into dashboards, summaries, and activation trackers • Liaise with agencies, suppliers, and internal teams (Brand, Sales, Finance, Procurement)

  • Heavy Goods Vehicle Soldier (CE license) at Swiss Armed Forces
    Sep 2025 - Feb 2026 · 6 mos

    • Operated 40-ton articulated military vehicles under strict safety standards, including route planning, risk awareness, and defensive driving. • Executed sensitive / time-critical transport missions, maintaining operational discretion and mission discipline. • Coordinated movement and logistics with leadership to ensure on-time delivery of personnel, equipment, and supplies. • Conducted pre-/post-mission inspections, basic troubleshooting, and readiness checks to maintain fleet availability. • Worked effectively under pressure in dynamic environments, demonstrating discipline, resilience, and adaptability. • Contributed to team performance through clear communication, situational awareness, and adherence to procedures.

  • Marketing Trainee (Strategic Insights & Brand Marketing / Ploom) at JTI (Japan Tobacco International)
    Apr 2024 - Sep 2025 · 1 yr 6 mos

    Strategic Insights • Built trackers and research tools (surveys, reporting) to support market & consumer understanding • Turned complex datasets into clear insights for internal stakeholders • Managed an end-to-end market research project influencing commercial decisions Brand Marketing (Ploom / RRP) • Supported Swiss launch of Ploom Aura (launch execution, comms support, cross-functional delivery) • Contributed to trade-up initiatives, brand materials, and in-market readiness • Supported digital marketing ecosystem work and consumer engagement initiatives • Gained hands-on exposure to SAP, budgeting, and agency coordination

  • Sustainability, CSR, & Leadership | Academic Assistant at EHL
    Sep 2022 - Oct 2023 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Bachelor Student at EHL
    Sep 2018 - Jun 2022 · 3 yrs 10 mos

    Bachelor in the Science of Hospitality Management. Final Student Business Project: 5.9 / 6.0