Executive leader for biotechnology start-up launching products with improved health and sustainability profiles in high intensity sweeteners, flavors & fragrances. Strong collaboration with sales and technical leadership to deliver growth. Led a 7 person strategic and executional marketing and communications team based in US, UK and Mexico.
• Novel Product Expertise: Launched novel ingredient brazzein (sweet protein); launched first biotech-enabled stevia ingredient in EU/UK with first of its kind EFSA approval for new stevia production technology.
• Revenue Growth: Rebranded and repositioned Sweegen as a leader in sugar reduction innovation
• Building Infrastructure: Implemented Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Sustainability Know-How: Led project to analyze Carbon Footprint for key commercial products
• Addressing Customer Needs: Led a variety of primary consumer research studies including: product labeling study in UK, Germany and France; warning label study in Mexico.

Member of executive leadership team reporting to Chief Commercial Officer for a biotechnology start-up.
• P&L: Managed global resveratrol ingredient business, doubled ingredient sales in
• Revenue Growth: Led Veri-te® brand relaunch; designed and implemented new customer acquisition plan leveraging unique clinical trial data and led market expansion into 1) new geographies (India, Australia, and Mexico) via new distributor partnerships, 2) new regulatory applications (China, Japan, Taiwan), and 3) market analysis and pilot testing for new application and growth areas (e.g. cosmetics and aquaculture).
• Leadership: Managed cross-functional team including sales, marketing, scientific affairs, operations, applications, regulatory, supply chain, and legal to deliver revenue growth.
• Other Industries: Led strategic marketing for a novel pest control ingredient Nootkatone which was part of a US Center for Disease Control and Prevention funded tick prevention program.

Directed marketing team for biotechnology start-up producing novel proteins, fats and oils from microalgae.
• Leadership: Led relaunch of Solazyme's AlgaVia® algae protein and algal flour (a novel fat source) business; completed positioning and branding in 4 months with launch at largest annual industry conference IFT.
• Creative Approach: Created industry education program to target key influencer nutritionists via various in-person and online events; managed chef-hosted luncheons for customers and investors; and collaborated with multiple internal and external stakeholders to establish ingredient reputation management program.
• Sales, Distributors and JV Partners: Responsible for messaging and sales training for sales team, distribution partners, and JV partner Bunge.
• Collaboration with Customers: Managed qualitative and quantitative consumer research including research collaborations with international CPG customers.

Roles focused on new growth initiatives & programs within a global business with $130B+ in annual revenue.
• Stevia Innovation: Member of leadership team that launched ViaTech® Stevia Systems, a new-to-Cargill business that increased profit margins in the stevia business by 3x vs current market product by leveraging ingredient systems approach, new product IP, branding, product design and sales strategy.
• Novel Sweetener Innovation: Led strategic market development for biotech-enabled high intensity sweetener first identified in the roots of a rare South African plant (monatin); managed market and volume analysis, customer and consumer segmentation; collaborated with multinational beverage company (development partner) on primary consumer research to explain new technology to consumers.
• Market Research and Analysis: Managed range of market studies using Nielsen, Euromonitor, Mintel, Innova in addition to primary research and customer segmentation

Conducted research and authored book chapters and articles with HBS professor Clayton Christensen, author of The Innovator's Dilemma.

Directed country program in Namibia for international development firm focused on health education through branded products.

Database management