LUISA FERNANDA ACEVEDO SUAREZ

Cel: 316-7418007 Tel: 6-364610

Calle 88#9-30 Apto 302

co.linkedin.com/in/luisafernandaacevedo

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:

  • Experience in creating and launching new business units, categories, products and areas for Multinational and Multi-Latin consumer goods companies. .
  • Leadership in the formulation and implementation of business strategies.
  • Extensive knowledge in marketing, innovation, creative problem solving, market research and sustainability models.
  • Proven abilities to persuade and influence teams to be aligned around a common vision and to achieve goals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

ALPINA PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS S.A. - SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR 2012 –2015

Lead the definition and implementation of the sustainability, social value and stakeholder strategies for Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the United States.

  • Part of the team that designed Alpina’s strategic guidelines for 2020.
  • Led the alignment of the organization towards the business sustainability commitments.
  • Redesigned the social value strategic guidelines to obtain greater social impact.
  • Designed the corporate sustainability governance within the organization.
  • Included sustainability criteria in strategic planning, capital allocation and business risks.
  • Introduced a new the stakeholder engagement model.
  • Developed a project to reduce food waste to generate savings of USD 806.000 and rescue 500 tones of food.

AGENCIA NACIONAL PARA LA SUPERACION DE LA POBREZA EXTREMA

Social Innovation Center - Director 2011-2012 Design and lead the social innovation strategy of Colombia’s National Government to improve the quality of life of the population in extreme poverty and vulnerability.

  • Created the Social Innovation Center: one of the five worldwide founded by a National Government.
  • Structured open innovation challenges in order to generate innovative solutions to housing and drinkable water problems.
  • Led “bottom –up” social innovation projects nationwide.
  • Structured a Social Innovation Fund: investment vehicle to finance innovation projects with public and private capital.
  • Created "Hilando" a network of social innovators with solutions to poverty.
  • Led the first National forum on social innovation with global experts.

ALPINA PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS S.A.

Innovation and Consumer Research Director 2006–2011 Build growth strategies derived from a deep understanding of consumer behavior, a prospective market analysis and innovation platforms.

  • Structured the consumer understanding and innovation business unit.
  • Designed the strategic vision of the innovation culture and customer centricity across the organization.
  • Part of the team that lead Alpina’s entry to the US market.
  • Optimized brand spend by aligning brand, communications, new product development and pricing strategies to consumer needs in all categories and countries where Alpina operates.

GRUPO BIMBO - Sweet Bakery Unit Manager 2005 –2006

Lead category strategy for pastries, cakes and sweet snacks.

  • Increased revenues (tarts and cakes) by 21%.
  • Increased profitability by 16%.
  • Developed a new product line for Christmas season. Increased 40% October-December revenue.
  • Led Mr. Brown brand re-launch.

FIRMENICH - Chief Marketing Officer 2004 – 2005

Lead marketing strategy for perfumery, fine fragrance, body care and home care for the Andean Region.

  • Developed marketing and innovation strategies for clients in the consumer goods industry.
  • Led an interdisciplinary team in order to develop new products in the soap, detergent, deodorant and cosmetic sectors.
  • Developed a PR strategy oriented to increase awareness on the company’s strengths and value generation differentiators in the B to B segment.
  • Increased market share in personal care by 15%
  • Increased sales of fragrances on soap by 18%

QUALA

Senior Manager Lollipops and Sweet Snacks 2003 – 2004

Lead marketing strategy for lollipops, Quipitos and traditional deserts.

  • Redefined Chupi Plum communication and distribution strategies, achieving 40% sales increase in the retail channel.
  • Defined trade marketing strategies for Quipitos generating +12% in revenue
  • Developed the business plan to launch a new category of traditional desserts.

UNILEVER – BEST FOODS BARCELONA - Analyst Consumer Insights 2002 - 2003

Generate consumer insights for culinary and ice cream categories.

  • Lead the "Re-Connecting with Consumers" program to engage top executives of the organization in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia with their customers in order to generate new insights platforms to feed innovation funnel.
  • In charge of the market research for the brands: Frigo, Carte D'or, Salto and Knorr

MEALS DE COLOMBIA - Brand Manager ,Ice CreAm and JUICES 2000 -2002

Develop and implement the strategy to increase per capita ice cream consumption in Colombian households and, the strategy for juices and soft drinks categories.

  • Part of the team that studied the acquisition of “Helados La Fuente” and “Helados Robin Hood”.
  • Developed two new product lines: family desserts and multipacks. Achieving sales increases of 23%
  • Increased sales in the ice cream tubes by18%
  • Increased sales of premium orange juice by 31%

KIMBERLY CLARK - Brand Manager – Diapers 1999 - 2000

In charge of the Premium Tier diaper brands.

  • Launched the new brand of Pull ups
  • Launched the new brand Little Swimmers
  • Increaseed Huggies sales by 45%

EXXON MOBIL - Trainee , Strategic Planning 1998–1999

Analyze external information and track key performance indicators, making data intelligence and knowledge management in order to support the Retail Business VP.

UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES

Undergraduate Academic Director of the School of Business 1997-1998

Responsible for the academic and administrative management of the undergraduate program.

• Lead the curriculum reform in order to be certified amongst the best business schools by international accreditation standards.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

  • Member of the Board of the Alpina Foundation.
  • Member of the FAO Network of experts in Food Loses and Waste.
  • Professor at the “Universidad de los Andes” (Introduction to Management, Design and Innovation).

EDUCATION:

  • Bachelor in Business, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, 1996. Honors: Best student of my cohort.
  • Master in Group Analysis and Management, Universidad de Barcelona, 2003.
  • Certificate on Analytical Psychology, Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, 2009.
  • Certificate on Holistic Sciences and Economics for Transition,Plymouth University,Schumacher College, 2012.
  • Certificate on Positive Psychology, Whole Being Institute, blended learning, in progress.

Executive education:

  • Creative Problem Solving, State University of New York, Buffalo, 2014
  • Customer-Focused Innovation, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, 2011
  • Productive Creativity? What If! Innovation, NYC, 2010
  • Kellogg on Marketing, Kellogg School of Management. 2009
  • Advanced Strategic Planning, Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley, 2008