PROFILE SUMMARY
Techno-commercial expert with 28 years of experience spanning B2B and B2C value chains in Food, Animal Feed, Nutraceuticals, and Specialty Chemicals.Comes with hands-on experience in strategy creation, product management, and new business account development. Her extensive network within the Food industry, affiliations with FSSAI, PFNDAI, CII, FICCI, ASOCHAM, ICAR, and ICT institutes underscores her industry influence. Skilled in discerning emerging trends, market needs, and converting insights into robust business strategies and leading diverse teams across global geographies
EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Tata Chemicals Ltd (Innovation Centre, Pune)
Business Engagement innovation Centre Nov’20 – May’23
o Successfully partnered creation of new Business strategy and portfolio plans for premiumization of Bicarbonates and bio derivatives.
o Developed and commissioned efficacy studies in Herbal extracts, prebiotics (Sc-FOS) with Central Govt institutes for (reducing use of antibiotic growth promoters) in Animal Feed (Dairy cattle, goat and poultry (Broilers)). This was to be used in selling collaterals.
o Commissioned and managed National level projects in Sodium bicarbonate and adjacencies for animal feed applications (management of ruminal acidosis) in Dairy cattle with animal efficacy studies at National Dairy research institute (deemed ICAR university in Dairy) Karnal. The intervention helped improve milk yield, milk composition and other animal husbandry scores and profitability by (Appx Rs 2000) per cow. In poultry intervention to manage heat stress in layers and broilers and hence improve the meat and egg quality (Appx Rs 6 per bird).
o Commissioned the Scientific dossier for product communication on Negative impact of Sodium Sulphate in Poultry and Reduction in methane emissions in dairy cattle and product claims for Sc-FOS in Aqua and poultry segments.
o Developed the proof of concepts on Heat stress management toolkit in poultry, Calf weaning time reducers in Dairy cattle and diarrhea management in pigs, antibiotic reducers for Aqua with CRO and customer -ICAR university pilots in Namakkal and Kakinada resp
o Key influencer, speaker with channel (distributor) partners in on-line and offline platforms Pan-India.
Tata Consumer Product Ltd Special Projects-Mumbai Feb’20-Oct’20
o Handover of Tata Nx to the new “team “in the new company Tata consumer Products.
Tata Chemicals Ltd (New business- Vertical Startup-Mumbai)
Business Head TATA Nx Sep’17 – Feb’20
o Directed a new business Tata Nx creation in the area of nutraceuticals for “New Age Indians “with immunity gut impr and energy platforms. Managed a team (6-8 direct reports) and spend (@ $2 M) for Nutritional solutions in B2C and B2B segments. This was a “first of its kind “pilot startup in a chemicals company.
o Consumer and channel insights were generated leveraging non -classical methods like Women and Powai network fitness groups.
o Developed 5 new products, launched 3 (Zero sugar( Beverage sweetener) and Energy-prebiotic proteins) in key online and offline pilots.--- TATA Nx Zero sugar won Ayush award India twice in a year “. (Best seller on Amazon) https://www.tatachemicals.com/news-room/press-release/tata-nx-zero-sugar-awarded-ayush-kamal-ratna-for-indias-best-natural-sweeteners
-Drove central contracts and selling with Indian Hotels, Serviced 55+ Taj group Hotels, Star Bucks and Air Vistara. .
o Setup supply chain and business operations, by securing MSME vendors ($0.1M revenue over 2 years).
o Recruited and managed agency partners for branding, small time digital promotions (In –shorts, brand stores, online health quizzes), and BTL activities in online and offline platforms (Omni channel selling and Amazon Brand store).
o Generated new business leads and opportunities for portfolio expansions. Responsible for business from production to actual sales and P&l. Negotiated and framed contracts, client proposals with Manufacturing vendors, agency partners (Ogilvy, Digitalis etc) and B2B channel partners (Amazon, Net meds, Spencer’s, ABRL, etc).
o Leveraged social influencers and partners to promote the product in Twitter and social media (LinkedIn Facebook Amazon brand store).
o Directing the Creation and hosting of Tata Nx website.
o Anchored the Leadership role ensuring achievement of Sales, marketing, branding, growth targets.
o Commissioned clinical trials for the natural nonnutritive sweeteners with CRO
General Mills Inc, Mumbai
R&D Head Asia Middle East Africa Feb’15 – Jun’17
Remodeled and restructured and set up a team and AMEA R&D vertical at Mumbai, the new structure had 3 platforms (Dry mixes, Snacks culinary and Ice creams- each supported by process and packaging development), managed a team size of 13. -One of the achievements was to “Launch and learn “in a small pilot in a select region.
o Supported the regional center and global teams to implement innovation management processes.
o Launched Korea Fruit by the foot plant, cupcakes (SEA), Pillsbury cookie cake, Choco spread (India), Parampara masalas and RTE, Betty Crocker mixes and Nature valley variants in United Arab Emirates and exports to Spain, USA.
o Led Consumer Insights, Process and Packaging Development, Regulatory and other RD&Q support activities to help create and deliver End-to-End Category agenda. Partnered supply chain for quality management systems and raw material vendor developments.
o Anchored IP controls to transfers innovation technologies.
o Regulatory advocacy and ensuring compliances for the Asia and Middle East region.
o Managed on time $5M R&D spend and achieved $1.5M cost savings through negotiations, sourcing events & alternate options in recipe raw materials.
Mondelez International Inc Mumbai (Formerly Cadbury India Ltd & Kraft ltd.) Jun’96-Jan’15
o Joined as an entry level management trainee in department strength of 3 and a $60M organization. My efforts helped expand to a RDQ team strength of 100+, $16M R&D center and Mondelez company grew to $1B today.
o First female Employee in Management on technical side (Supply Chain, R&D) 1996, first posting at Gwalior (MP).
o End to End design and delivery of premium Chocolate -Temptations and continuous Five star.
o Kraft values in action – unlocking additional candy capacities (2013), Inventing Delicious Awards: Kraft Foods AP for Productivity (2011), Bubbaloo - global commercial award for Best Global NPD launch of the year (2007)
R&D Head Powder Beverages (Senior Manager SG 13) Asia Middle East Africa Nov’14 – Jan’15
o Growth and innovation partner for regional category for developing, driving innovation and margin improvement programmes spanning two continents in Tang & Bournvita. Owner of all technical activities’ product packaging regulatory and technology.
o Led set up of the technical verticals and value chain mapping to (understand cost of goods chain) in AMEA, Philippines, and Nigeria for Tang and Bournvita. This was later funnelled to provide Fuel for growth plans to improve brand profitability.
o Supply Chain partner on environment, quality, health and Safety.
o Led business continuity planning, FSSAI licenses, technology, and continuous improvement programs in process manufacturing and quality systems.
Category Innovations Gum and candy Associate Vice President Apr’09 – Nov’14
o Developed and implemented strategic plans (Growth and productivity improvement) across different units in India, AMEA
o Guided and coordinated l RD&Q activities, including Consumer Insights, Process and Pocket Pack Developments for Halls, trident Eclairs Bubbaloo centre filled stride etc and premiumisation of Re1 to shareable packs.
o Localized technologies by collaborating with leading centers of excellence globally (America) and regionally (Singapore &Thailand) and local Technical Institutions.
o Responsible for creating and operating annual budgets, performance reviews, training, and development, managing administration. Capacity expansions and technology transfers to 4 sites in India.
o Asia Pac Lead (for 13 countries and 4 categories) for Sugar tower- (Saved $84 million in 3 years) through Specification harmonization, Supplier optimization, Logistics/ Value Chain, and Technology & Innovation.
o Asia Pac Project Manager on productivity (created a pipeline and deliver savings of ($54 million in 3 years)).
o Spearheading the Technical- Management Trainee program for Cadbury India Ltd. Partnered recruitment for product process &packaging.
o Integration officer Cadbury and Kraft- master data mapping and migration for formulations.
o Anchored Clinical trials for diabetic friendly isomalt based chocolates
Category Innovations Manager & intégration officer, Gum and Candy Apr’06 – Mar’09
o Custodian of technical knowledge and coordinator for overall RD&Q activities (product, regulatory technology, and packaging). Gum and candy. (Bubbaloo first centre-filled Bubble Gum in India technology transfer from Mexico), managed a team size of 4.
o Supply chain transformations through process optimisations, localized gum base making and Halls.
o Lead for global Technical data and knowledge management systems.
o Developed Quick prototype-pack testing to support general trade innovation studies in confectionery with Aliya
o Developed and localized gum base making in India. Earlier it would be imported from Mexico ($5 million in 2 years)). All this was remotely coordinated with conference calls and e-connects, with 2 F2F meetings in NJ USA.
Product Manager Chocolates Apr’05 – Mar’06
Manager Chocolatés and Bournvita Apr’99 – Mar’05
Asst Manager Development Chocolates Dec’97 – Mar’99
o Developed & delivered (at the plant) Chocolate innovations e.g.-Temptations, continuous five star, CDM shots, Silk, Single shot Techno-commercial partner to set up new business accounts for covering chocolates and couvertures with B2B partners
o Managed factory operations for continuous lines for indulgent candy, Gems and Fruit and nut.
o Optimized Neocota (panning in GEMS) cycle stabilizations which resulted in a total $0.7 million cost avoidance at Capex.
Purple Star (Management Trainee) Jun’96 – Dec’97
o Recruited by Cadburys from Campus as part of a select group of postgraduates for the “build “program.
o Commissioned large capacities of Chocolate plants (45 to 100 Tons per day) and form fill seal (Auto wrappers) machines.
o Resized and commissioned the new design Snack bars like Perk –Five star w.r.t Reverse auctions in corrugated box and outer resizing.
Competition mapping and re-engineering of product and packaging .
Lab to line commercials , New product launch and setting up of new business lines
Market trends and potential in ingredients and technology for food , pharma, nutraceuticals and FMCG products.
Solving process related problems in food and pharma industries wrt improving yeild and efficiency on line