CEO, Downstream

About the role

Our client is a refined oils and fats company with vision to be the top 3 players in the market. This position report to the Group President. The broad company objectives are:

• Product development into higher end specialty palm & lauric solutions.

• Market development / distributor development.

• Partnerships / JVs.

• More effective use / value addition of by-products.

Your responsibilities

• Lead and guide the strategic planning and execution process to build the company as an efficient, high quality specialty fats producer.

  • Develop a robust and aggressive strategic plan for Oils and Fats segment. 

  • Implement an efficient system to identify industry challenges & developments and develop mid to long term plans to proactively address the emerging challenges and opportunities.

  • Ensure that strategic objectives & goals are communicated effectively down the levels within the segment.

  • Monitor, align and guide the respective operational teams to achieve the set objectives.

• Ensure that the Business is run efficiently, sustainably and enhance Shareholder value.

  • Be responsible for managing the Downstream segment Cashflow and maximize profitability at each level of the value chain to generate the desired profitability and EBITDA targets.

  • Develop mid-long term Sales and Marketing strategy to strengthen the company as a respected and reputed brand in the operating markets.

  • Lead and guide the marketing team to achieve the targeted product wise / region wise marketing volumes and maximize production capacity utilization.

  • Manage and guide the raw material procurement and commodity trading desk to achieve the targeted trading P&L at competitive pricing levels and mitigate commodity trading risks.

  • Manage and mitigate currency risk.

• Grow revenues by developing markets / channel / customers and products to meet mid-long term business objectives.

  • Strengthen the volumes in the existing markets by building relationships with the key traders / distributors / agents and customers.

  • Identify and develop new markets and establish the required marketing infrastructure to build volumes.

  • Study and understand the consumer specialty fats usage pattern in the operating locations and proactively drive New Product Development along with the R&D teams to strengthen the company's market standing.

  • Ensure product profitability by evaluating the overall impact of the product production and identify methods of managing by products.

• Foster long term customer relationships for sustained business growth

  • Engage with the trade in the respective operating locations to build relationships to achieve the preferred supplier status.

  • Develop a strong market intelligence framework to map customer / trade / channel expectations on a periodic basis to ensure that the marketing / product strategy is aligned to the emerging trends.

  • Build a pipeline of strategic end-user customers for collaborative product development.

  • Ensure customer retention by exceeding customer expectations and concerns / complaints are addressed proactively.

• Ensure efficient production and the factory.

  • Review and monitor the capacity utilization of the plants and develop necessary plant to effectively utilize the available plant capacity.

  • Ensure that the plants are run efficiently as per the rated throughput and desired yield levels / reduced losses.

  • Ensure that the maintenance and upkeep of the factory is done on time and wherever required to seek for investments to support long term sustenance.

  • Establish a periodic review cycle to monitor to control fixed and variable cost.

  • Encourage the team to study and develop innovative methods to improve efficiency / reduce waste and optimize costs.

  • Instill a culture of Quality and ensure that quality of products and processes followed are as per world class standards.

  • Reinforce the importance of safety and ensure that the factory is maintained as per international standards.

  • Review the overall health of the plant with the technical teams and recommend strategies and actions which are required to meet long-term objectives.

• Adhere to all food safety standards & compliance.

  • Ensure that the factory operates as per food safety standards prescribed by regulators and customers.

  • Ensure compliance to food safety and certification standards such as OHSAS, HALAL, KOSHER etc.

  • Review and ensure overall compliance to all statutory and regulatory requirements.

• Develop Human Capital

  • Develop a strong leadership pipeline within the organization to can lead teams and functions in line with the business objectives.

  • Build strong technical capabilities within the team to support building a world class organization.

You will have

• Minimum 10 years of strategic leadership management role in edible oils/fats/lauric oils industry.

• Well exposure to either trading/sales/marketing/procurement of downstream plantation business.

• Successful track record in expanding business to new markets.

• Strong ability to organize effectively, delegate responsibility, solve problems quickly and communicate clearly.