KEYUR PATEL
Ahmedabad
Summary
As a seasoned professional in the Dairy/Food/Beverage/Food Ingredients industry, I bring over 14 years of hands-on experience in senior leadership roles overseeing global operations. My expertise spans diverse markets across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Through strategic leadership, I have optimized P&L performance, driven innovative product development initiatives, streamlined manufacturing operations, enhanced supply chain efficiency, upheld stringent quality standards, and devised effective sales strategies. Notable accomplishments include revitalizing underperforming businesses, successfully managing both greenfield and brownfield projects, instituting best-in-class operational protocols, fostering multicultural teams, diversifying revenue streams, and consistently exceeding business targets
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief technical and Plant Head
Gulkis
12.2023 - Current
- Taking care of entire operations of multiple plant, starting from planning, execution, new project, R&D, market demand, procurement, quality, and maintenance
- Responsible for P&L of operations.
Group Business Head - Sales and R&D
Gujarat Enterprise
09.2018 - 11.2023
- Strategically defines long-term organizational goals, cultivating key customer relationships, identifying lucrative business opportunities, and successfully closing business deals, while remaining abreast of current market conditions
- Pioneered the launch of the innovative product 'KreAmaze:' Stabilizer & Emulsifier Blend, laying the groundwork for its successful introduction into the market
- Oversees sales team, employing meticulous micro-strategies to drive sales growth and market penetration
- Leads the key accounts sales business, ensuring alignment with profit and loss objectives within the annual budget
- Heading Research & Development center having fully equipped processing Facilities (UHT) fordairy/nondairy, beverage, cheese/non-dairy cheese, Ice -Cream & frozen desserts, bakery, culinary and confectionery industries
- Develops and nurtures strategic relationships within customer organizations, including senior management, R&D, QA, Marketing, and Procurement departments, to ensure collaborative success across all facets of the business
- Guiding high-risk initiatives to mitigate potential pitfalls, eliminate obstacles, and furnish technical guidance/mentoring to propel the business development team towards successful scalability.
Research & Development/Manufacturing Manager
Jal Alsahraa
01.2016 - 07.2018
- Pivotal involvement in managing end-to-end research & development function along with manufacturing
- Effectively developing technical and manufacturing strategies to drive sales growth
- Developed new products to enhance the sales strategy for establishing continuous growth
- Accountable for evaluating innovative product trends and tracking competitor’s activities
- Instrumental in analyzing the new product trends & developing the right product for the right market
- Active involvement in conducting market research on updated product and developing alternative suppliers
- Responsible for setting up research & development lab setup & large commercial production process facility.
Asst.Manager Research & Development/Quality
Unikai Foods
09.2012 - 11.2015
- Involved in new product pipeline portfolio
- Provided leadership/support for the design, development, refinement, and implementation of products by initiating research to identify consumer needs
- Part of performance evaluation analysis team
- Handled raw material availability for trials
- Maintained communication with different stakeholders to share emerging new ingredients, packaging, and technology
- Prepared primary protocols for quality and manufacturing.
Jr.Manager Research & Development
IFFCO
06.2010 - 08.2012
- Handled pilot scale trials for UHT beverage (Dairy/Juice) and culinary
- Maintained and analyzed the test results
- SOP preparation for manufacturing/quality
- Handled consumer complaints
- Implemented internal and external sensory evaluation strategies.
In plant trainee
AMUL
03.2008 - 03.2009
Education
Bachelor of Dairy Technology - Dairy Science
Anand Agricultural University
India06.2010
High School Diploma -
Gujarat Educational Board
06.2006
Skills
Team building and development
Continuous Improvement
Project Management
Lean manufacturing principles
Energy management
ISO Compliance
Product Customization
Decision-Making
New Process Development
Business Turnaround & Transformation
Certification
- Certification course on Person-In-Charge, Food Safety level 3 by DM of Dubai
- FSSC 22000 Certified Lead Auditor, ERCA European register of certificated auditors
- ADFCA (Abu-Dhabi Food Control Authority) Food Safety training and in-charge
- Best kaizen during Amul Dairy training
Products Handled
- B2C: Dairy and Non Dairy value added, culinary, beverages, bakery and confectionery products.
- Ingredients/Products handled: B2B Dairy cultures (CSL/SACCO), Pectin/hydrocolloids (CEAMSA), stabilizer & emulsifier
blends, Flavors (SYMRISE/Prova),food color /food coloring ingredients(Exberry), modified starches (SMS), emulsifying-salts
for cheese/dairy (CORINO), preservatives, natural sweeteners (PURE CIRCLE), plant/milk Proteins, glucono delta lactone
(ROQUETTE), Polyols citrus fibers and Fruit preparations (AGRANA),etc
References
- Mr.Sameer Saxena, Head Rnd & QA, AMUL (GCMMF), +91 9327088059
- Mr.Dipan Dalal, MSD,Asia pacific, Azelis,Singapore, +65 80286971
- Mr.Chandra Sekhar Tenali, Global Business Strategy & Global Commercial Director, CEAMSA, SPAIN, +34 690810895/ +34 682907020
Timeline
Chief technical and Plant Head
Gulkis
12.2023 - Current
Group Business Head - Sales and R&D
Gujarat Enterprise
09.2018 - 11.2023
Research & Development/Manufacturing Manager
Jal Alsahraa
01.2016 - 07.2018
Asst.Manager Research & Development/Quality
Unikai Foods
09.2012 - 11.2015
Jr.Manager Research & Development
IFFCO
06.2010 - 08.2012
In plant trainee
AMUL
03.2008 - 03.2009
Bachelor of Dairy Technology - Dairy Science
Anand Agricultural University
High School Diploma -
Gujarat Educational Board