Christopher Shannon Email & Phone Number

Montreal, Qc, Ca

Took direct responsibility for the development and implementation of a world-class Coffee Productivity Platform. Technical expert for discussions with external clients, and internal x-functional teams. Responsible for the management and development of a diverse team of scientists and engineers.- Developed and executed productivity pipelines delivering 4+% reduction in COGS within a commodity driven environment.- Created and implemented a flexible sourcing strategy to manage commodity volatility and reduce cost without compromising quality- Chaired weekly meetings with Brand Managers and sourcing managers to pro-actively review risks and opportunities- R&D lead in weekly Supply Chain Leadership Meetings to discuss project upsates, Capex potentials, and gain support/alignment where needed.

Reporting to the COO, managed all elements of R&D and Regulatory Affairs, while serving as a technical expert for Operations to lead CI initiatives and process optimization. Oversaw a product development and innovation pipeline increasing volume by 2.5x (250%).- Developed SOPs and processes for aligning the organization to achieve SQF certification- Created and executed a productivity roadmap resulting in a 10% reduction in COGS- Led process optimization initiatives allowing an incremental 3 weeks production availability, reducing touchpoints by 90% in unit operations, and eliminating idle line waste- Developed a strategic sourcing plan to ensure supply continuity for high volume ingredients while optimizing cost

Greater Chicago Area, Il, Us

Responsible for management of the NA chocolate and candy product & process development functions. Management of annual budget and resource allocations. Accountable for the management and development of a diverse team of scientists and engineers.- Created productivity pipeline over the SP delivering 3+% reduction in COGS within a commodity cost driven environment- Benchmarked plant performance and developed technology/capital requirements for optimisation- Program management of new product and process development through 2018 launches- Design of facility capital expansion ($20MM) from ideation through engineering and commissioning requirements- Chair of monthly NA supply chain/R&D technical forum to review strategy and project demands

Greater Chicago Area, Il, Us

Responsible for the development and implementation of the Category Productivity Platform and Process Technology Development. Member of the EU Leadership Team to develop business strategy and prioritize projects against resource & budget availability. - Led supply chain/R&D project teams on strategic initiatives, new process installation, Integrated Lean Six Sigma, and sourcing flexibility to ensure product quality at lowest landed cost.- Implemented productivity program to deliver cost savings totaling 900% of target.- Worked with diverse senior functional leaders to develop and implement KPIs covering the entire supply chain.- Developed and commercialized a novel technology to optimize product quality of a leading brand, delivering product superiority versus competitor for the first time in 15 years.- Responsible for identifying, defining and solving complex business and/or technical challenges within the business and manufacturing network.

- Developed a productivity roadmap to increase 2010 raw material savings by 400% from the 2007 level. Delivered $30 million cost savings in 2010- Developed and co-ordinated a broad program to reduce product design complexity by 50% throughout the network. Aligned a diverse cross-functional stakeholder set regarding program benefits and implementation path- Member of senior management group developing and executing an asset roadmap yielding $24 million in cost savings through streamlining, plant exits and divestitures. Developed programs for product/asset re-sourcing.- Member of x-functional Lean Manufacturing team.

Responsible for Product Development and Quality. Chairman of R&D Health and Safety Committee - Assumed a leadership role in cross-functional teams and interacted with senior management towards business goals, strategies and critical paths. - Monitored competitive landscape for product optimization opportunities. - Responsible for developing needs requirements and prioritizing work / budget against business objectives. - Exceeded business plans for NPD revenue against a challenging market landscape- Developed technical programs to drive quality and ensure consumer relevant brand value. QI solutions implemented to achieve quality strategy versus competitors