Simon Robertson Email & Phone Number

Switzerland

R&D strategy manager that makes a difference. Have lead R&D teams of 100 plus food technology professionals providing measurable strategic and tactical development to deliver against the consumer and business needs. With expertise in Consumer centric design thinking, Rapid prototyping, End to End product development and practical operational implementation, with excellent team leadership and communications skills to guide companies and product development teams to excellence.Creative, positive, practical and commercially minded. Innovative with a positive will to win in an ever faster moving food industry with a proven record of accomplishment of creative commercially successful innovations.

Switzerland Vevey

Based in Switzerland head office as part of the business management team, aligned R&D development portfolio to the Out Of Home business and customer needs. Reset R&D resources and capabilities within budget. Created new category specific OOH I&R project portfolios for Culinary savoury solutions under CHEF and MAGGI Brands Meat Alternatives for global Chain Restaurants Dairy products with OOH specific functional under Nestle, Carnation, La Lechera and others. Confectionery Branded ingredients for OOH desserts under Nestlé, KIT KAT, GALAK and others.

New Delhi Area, India

As an expatriate living just outside Delhi created and directed the project construction team to build a new food R&D technology centre on green field site. With capital budget of over 50M CHF, constructed and delivered on time, in budget, with no lost time accidents on site. Set up Pilot and bench scale facilities for Savoury food and confectionery products, with all needed sensory and chemical laboratories and all site services. Recruited and trained the R&D product and technology development team for the new site, building a core local Indian team supported by expatriate specialists.In total over 120 staff

Vevey Switzerland

Working in Nestle head office in Vevey as part of the Strategic business Unit (SBU) I built global confectionery product development and technology strategy through key technology platforms; Product Improvement modelling connecting consumer preference with sensory science and processing technology Cocoa plant expertise and agricultural development to build a sustainable cocoa program Chocolate mastering to deliver consumer quality expectations with protected processing technology Healthier but indulgent confectionery using aeration technology Biscuit and cereal snacking focused on extrusion technology and cereal nutritionDriving the renovation and innovation of strategic Brands such as KITKAT, AERO, NESTLE, WONKA, GALAK, MIKLY BAR.Overall delivering an NNS growth through innovation of over 10%.

Orbe Switzerland

Based in Orbe R&D centre Switzerland where I led the global cereal department team of 48 staff and pilot plant.Expanded Nestles cereal technologies developed and successfully implemented cross category extrusion technology.Led and developed three product and technology development teams driving new unique and patented cereal technology processing for, CPW Breakfast cereals All Family and Infant Nutrition cereals Healthy Confectionery snacking

São Paulo Area, Brazil

In 2002 I was given the opportunity to join Nestlé, expand my career internationally and move directly to Brazil to build and created a new Biscuit R&D facility. This was set at a factory location in Sao Paulo, to support product and technology development for the business across 7 Latam markets. Created and developed a new team of 20 technicians and specialist in a broad range of Biscuit technology capabilities and launched several new and renovated products. Developed and implemented a full Biscuit technology program for the 5 core factories across Latam (over 200 technicians and operators trained).

United Kingdom

With my extensive biscuit technology capability, I took the opportunity to expand my management and commercial knowledge and joined Lyons Biscuits as part of their management team. (Taken over by Premier Food Biscuit division) Delivered all branded and private label biscuit/chocolate confectionery development work launching 10 new product per year across brands such as Cadbury biscuits, Maryland Cookies.Restructured R&D across two sites after the company merge, maintain all launch deadlines across the two portfolio’sBuilt strong technical sales relationships with several private label companies such as, TESCO, SAINSBURYS, WAITROSE

Llantarnam Wales

After establishing myself as a Biscuit expert, I took the opportunity to expand my capabilities and joined Burtons Biscuits as a Senior Project Manager as part of the R&D management team. I worked in both the central R&D facility and mostly in the Llantarnam factory in Wales .Core project areas were, Wagon wheels technology implementation of Jam injection and aeration system. Launched Private Label “Jaffa Cakes” several varieties. Jammie Dodgers Product and line efficiency improvement. Chocolate Dodgers Product development and launch.

United Kingdom, Glasgow, Maidenhead

I started my career in United Biscuits as a junior project manager moving swiftly through project management and latterly production management positions on an accelerated career path.Developed my capabilities and expertise in food technology, specifically in biscuits and confectionery product development. Leading key development product launches, the biggest being HOB NOBS a 50M GBP product that is now a household name.Leading production and operations in the Glasgow factory starting as a line manager moving up quickly to running the complete Biscuit production on site (over 300 staff and 80K ton).