8 rue Bernard Palissy
78100 Saint Germain en Laye / Francois Ruche
/ Fixe: 01 30 61 57 35
Port: 06 34 39 73 14
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGER

Highly accomplished consumer products General Management Executive (CEO) with a strong New Market creation background and 18 years international experience across North America, Latin America andEurope. Successful manager of regional and country level operations with full P/L responsibility. Cross-culturally sensitive, able to provide strong hands-on leadership. Multinational experience with leading Dairy, Confectionary and specialty Foods companies: BONGRAIN, LACTALIS, SMITHFIELD. Proven skills inCreation of new Markets, Business Development, and Operation Restructuring, Powerful communicator (4+ European languages) with proven ability to successfully manage key account relationships. Effective Leader that articulates a clear vision, identifies Strategic priorities, aligns appropriate constituencies, both internal and external, then inspires and motivates Teams to deliver extraordinary brand and business results. Passionate businesses developer and efficient solution maker.USA ( born Berkeley, CA) and Frenchcitizenship.

Expertise

18 years accomplishment in originating markets for internationally leading food companies:
- Creation, Development and Establishment of Dairy, Confectionary and specialty Foods industries abroad;
- Operations and production experience,- Retail
- Business development, brand management, people management,- International management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BONGRAIN (Fine Food Products) major brands: Caprice des Dieux, Coeur de Lion, Elle&Vire, Valrhona…
Bongrain InternationalViroflay, France

International Strategic Manager, World Head Offices presently

Supervision of Latin America business.

Bongrain USA New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA

International Sales Manager–Retail, Food Service and Ingredients 2009

Brought in to lead a turnaround of the struggling export sales.P&L responsibility for a portfolio of 50 SKU withannual sales of $10M, operating profit of $800K. ThreeUS plants producing award winning Alouette branded cheese spreads and commodity driven white cream cheese.
Key Accomplishments:
  • Reversing negative trend on the two major export markets: Mexico and Puerto Rico by delivering an aggressive program to customers through brokers. Droverevenue from -30% recession hit to on-line budget, maintained operating profits.
  • Successfully assessed a major quality issue affecting specific international customers and follow-up of recommendation.
  • Delivered unprecedented overseas market export strategy to gain shares against local and international competitors.
Bongrain MéxicoMonterrey, Mexico

Country Manager, Mexican Branch 2003- 2008

Head of Bongrain’s subsidiary in Mexico which represents 20% of the total Deli high-end cheese business and key player of the global Dairy retail portfolio. P&L and strategy ownership of a business consisting of importing dairy products with annual sales of $20M, and operating profit of over $500K. Accountability for the leadership and development of a HQ organization of 5logistic and sales professionals and an extended team of 20+ associates. Also fully engaged in the holding’s cross-functional organization of 80+ factory plants, with a focus on 3 major supply areas: Europe, USA and South America.
Key Accomplishments:
  • Promoted to design the original business plan and later selected to setup branch with outsourced Mexican back offices, hiring process, establishing logistics and distribution.
  • Drove revenue growth by consolidation of existing imports to major retail chains (Wal-Mart and Soriana) and to Mexican’s dairy leader with private brands agreements from Uruguay, France, Belgium and the US.
  • Successfully integrated previously disparate businesses into one cohesive, portfolio-based organization. Led an organizational restructuring which resulted in improved resource allocation, a clear communication and alignment process, an increase in empowerment and accountability, more fluid decision making and overall a much more streamlined and efficient organization.
  • Spearheaded an aggressive innovation agenda that delivered a +27% sales contribution vs. goal of 15% while concurrently and successfully reinvigorating the core business (most with COSTCO club type retail chain).
  • Led record market share gains in 2006 and 2007 (highlighted in the SOPEXA journal –French Export Association and the French Chamber of Commerce newsletter).
  • Led deployment of several capability-building programs such as “Food Cultural Diversity” and “People Valued Management” which were very well received throughout the entire Mexican organization. Noted for developing a high performance talent pool for hired Mexican young graduates that has been tapped repeatedly for key assignments across the US and internationally.
  • Sponsored Confectionary Food Festivals and regional social events, sponsored Chefs and culinary associations and exchange programs.
Continued…
Bongrain InternationalViroflay, France

International Strategic Manager, World Head Offices 2000 - 2003

Managed the opening of International markets for new plant in Uruguay.

  • Successfully transitioned initial business plan to action sales during Mercosur 2001 crisis,
  • Resolved innovating new products from Uruguay by benchmarking world leading cheese in Europe,
  • Captured export volumes to Mexico from New Zealand competitor.

Brought in to lead inside analysis of International synergies. Led and developed a transverse mapping of operations from 110 branches.

  • Delivered strong top line recommendation to grow international sales by building customer resources platforms, inside purchase networks and exchange programs.
  • Gained corporate alignment to significantly up weight export investment against increased innovation and prospection expenses. T

LACTALIS (world’s 3rd largest dairy company)

LactalisUSAManhattan, New York, USA

Canada & Latin America Zone Manager, US Head Offices1997 – 2000

Brought in to lead a turnaround of the Président brand cheese portfolio in retail and Food Service channels. Successfully reinvigorated the 25+ distributors network and to establish new outposts in strong growing markets. Managed the brand P&L as well as led a team of marketing professionals both in the US and France.

  • Delivered brand revenue growth driven by a new campaign in Brazil and Mexicoas well as an aggressive innovation agenda.
  • Led launch of new line extension (Goat and Sheep milk products) to existing customers.
  • Development of Food Service strategy for the Caribbean.
  • Two months after assuming leadership of the area, successfully implemented a strategy to recuperate 100% debt in Mexico and linkedthe deal to secure new distributor.

CAMPOFRIO-NAVIDUL (part of Smithfield US, Inc.)
NAVIDUL MERCOSUR Buenos-Aires, Argentina

Area Manager, National offices  1995 – 1997

Leveraging a newly developed import platform, was responsible for the fast track development and launch of Navidul in Argentina and neighbor markets to achieve first mover advantage in the Imported cured ham category.

  • Led successful launch of Samandy (an adapted formula cured ham for low income markets).
  • Delivered consistent retail sales as well as identified an incremental opportunity through additional distribution in Chile and Brazil.
  • Successfully recuperated 100% debt from prior importer through a logistic agreement.
NAVIDUL FRANCELyon, France

Sales Director, National offices 1993 - 1995

Supported the day-to-day management of theFrench business, largest volumes of all export. Responsible for the production forecast of our plant in France in the Alps.
  • Slotting new end-users pre-sliced packaging in retail chains, incrementing sales by 30% and consumer brand recognition.
  • Manufacturing bulk ham for the two leading French deli distributors that led to a significant turnaround in the Convenience channel.
  • Participated in the due diligences of a targeted French ham producer with final recommendation.
NAVIDUL Madrid, Spain

Europe Export Manager, World Head offices 1991 - 1993

Supported the day-to-day management and development of cured ham and Specialty foods export business over the UE. Responsible for the execution of branded programs and private brand plans as well as the development of future go-to-market plans.
  • Key contributor in the development and implementation of the Spanish Serrano ham in Francevs. Italian Prosciutto.
  • Led quality audits and launch of private label products in UK’s largest retail chains (Marks Spencer and Sainsbury).
  • Developed anexport strategy for the UE countries as the leading manufacturer inside the Consortium of Serrano Ham.

LANGUAGESEnglish (fluent), French (fluent), Spanish (fluent), German (novice), Portuguese (novice)

EDUCATIONESSECBUSINESSSCHOOL– EPSCI (Cergy-Pontoise, France)

International Business, 1988

Exchange program at ICADEBusinessSchool (Madrid, Spain)

ORGANIZATIONS/French Government Export Consultant CCE since 2005 as a selection of 20

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMSRepresentative executives in Mexico, field of expertise: Food and Retail industry.

Invited at Universities and Cultural Festivals to expose food associations (Cheese&Wine),

Organization of cultural motor gymkhanas (Madrid, Spain),

Active artist in painting: 5 major exhibitions in respected cultural institutions in Mexico.