When I was 15, I went into a pharmacy to get a prescription and thought: "I wonder what's going on in there?" So when my school asked me two days later what I wanted to do for work experience I said go into a pharmacy, and I thoroughly enjoyed the placement. I'd always been interested in science and I enjoyed that retail environment, so at the age of 15 I decided that pharmacy was my profession.

As AAH head of marketing services, a position I've held for 18 months, I'm responsible for all our marketing activity, which is quite broad. It covers any marketing we do towards or for any of our customers - from sole traders through small groups, regional groups and national chains such as Tesco and Superdrug. But it's not just community pharmacists - my team's other customer channels include hospitals, dispensing doctors and manufacturers. We're also responsible for the development of professional services and training.

I have been with AAH since 2003, as professional services manager up to the end of 2007. Before that I was with Lloydspharmacy - after doing my pre-reg with Boots - where I started as a store manager. I also worked one day a week for a PCT in a GP surgery and did my certificate in clinical pharmacy - I wasn't sure whether to pursue a commercial role or more of a professional role, so I used the practice pharmacist position to identify which way I wanted to go.

I enjoyed it, but then I was offered an area manager position and I decided it was too good to turn down. Hence I took the commercial road rather than the professional route - so that was a crossroads. I believe I made the right decision because I enjoy where I am today.

Pharmacy is my first love, my passion. I always want to be in a position in pharmacy where I can influence and I believe I am there now. I meet the movers and shakers in the profession and help to shape the direction of travel. I can use my position and understanding of pharmacy with my marketing skills and knowledge and bring the two together to support the profession, which is very satisfying.

The highlights are when we're able to develop support materials for pharmacists that are first to market or when a project takes a lot of work and investment to deliver, such as our flu vaccination service. It was unique in the industry and you get a lot of status from things like that. I also enjoy educating grassroots pharmacists and being able to relate to them and take their ideas and concerns back into the office and work with that to provide support.

I still locum on a Saturday to keep my hand in. Being a practising pharmacist adds real value to my marketing role. Most importantly, I do enjoy being a pure pharmacist; I enjoy the customer interaction and supporting patients. And it gets me out of doing the housework on a Saturday morning!

I'm a family man, married with three young children, so when I'm not working I'm trying to spend as much time as possible with them - going to the park, going to the cinema, eating out, or making sure they're doing their homework! When I have time to myself I enjoy going to the gym and playing badminton.

I'm also chair of a working group for a local charity, the Community, Education & Development Foundation, which supports people from low income backgrounds. For example, we might run craft classes for parents to help them interact with their children, charity events to raise money, or language classes.

I'm working on the flu service for this year at the moment - it's bigger and better than last year so we're actively promoting that. We have started planning for next year, looking at some of the challenges and opportunities that might create for our customers. Tomorrow I'm on an AAH leadership course, a workshop for our senior managers, which I'm looking forward to.

I sometimes think if I hadn't walked into that pharmacy to get a prescription when I was 15, what would I be doing today? It's an interesting thought.