Emma Clarke
Belper,Derby
Summary
Senior R&D and Product Development leader with extensive experience delivering complex innovation, category development, and transformation projects across FMCG, confectionery, and retail channels. Known for driving commercially successful NPD pipelines, leading cross‑functional teams, and aligning technical, operational, and brand strategies across multiple sites and international stakeholders.
Results-driven Group Project Leader with knack for driving forward complex projects and fostering collaborative team environments. Successfully led multiple cross-functional teams, delivering projects on time and within budget. Known for enhancing project efficiency and elevating team performance through strategic planning and problem-solving skills.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work history
Group Project Manager
Ferrero
Alfreton, Derbyshire
2015.08 - Current
Previous title. Senior Product Manager
- Overall accountability from concept to launch for a designated product category - seasonal/AYR/Own Label NPD and EPD
- Work across all sales channels (FMCG, Retail, Online, Led Own Label ) and most recently the entire local jewel portfolio
- Lead innovation workstreams to define and implement alignment opportunities with Ferrero systems and processes
- Work closely with heads of teams to ensure resource is aligned to the plan
- Directly and indirectly manage members of the team
- Cross‑Functional Project Management across multiple countries and hierarchies
- Innovation & Technical Feasibility - Work with industrial team and finance teams
- Budgeting, Costing and Capex management
- Supplier & Stakeholder Negotiation - Outsource existing product and fully end to end own this new process and product
- Team Leadership & Coaching - Direct reports and other members of the team
- Process Improvement & Ways of Working
- Commercial & Brand Alignment - Work alongside marketing colleagues to ensure delivery of brand aligned product
- Full ownership of Gantt chart and project planning - Across multiple projects at once
Brand manager
Thorntons
Alfreton, Derbyshire
2008.08 - 2015.08
Developed and implemented marketing plans, created products from idea through to launch and gained experience in PR, promotions and internal communication.
- Successfully managed a strategic project to re-launch the impulse category (circa 51 SKUs, delivering over £20m sales per annum) and delivered +10ppt Net Margin to the category
- Conducted regular category analysis (internal and external), including sales, competitor analysis, external market analysis, market trends, etc.
- Managed new store concepts with new product exclusives
- Market research – ensuring products are truly consumer led
- PR – ensuring maximum coverage for new product launches and throughout the life of the product
- Event management – accountability for developing and implementing a series of events to raise awareness of a brand
- Online communications – working with the web team to ensure products are maximised on the website
Product Manager
Thorntons
Alfreton , Derbyshire
2001.04 - 2008.08
- Manage brought in suppliers
- Organise product photo shoots
- Managed the printing of the catalogue
- Ensured all products are on the website
- Create new product
- Manage and analyse product life cycle
Mail Order Assistant
Thorntons
Alfreton, Derbyshire
1999.07 - 2001.04
Education
Project management certification -
Prince 2
2022 -
CIM Professional Diploma in marketing -
University of Derby
Derby 2006 -
Excel intermediate -
Internal
2013 -
Skills
- NPD innovator - Trends and Future ideas
- Good Communicator
- Project Management - Use to running multiple complex timelines across multiple products at once
- Working cross functionally across countries
- Problem solving
- Technical proficiency
- Results-Driven approach
- Microsoft project proficiency
- Project lifecycle expertise
- Knowledge of gantt charts
- Decisive decision-making
- Contract negotiation
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- Cultural competency
- Project scheduling
- Stakeholder management
Accomplishments
- Team award - Allyship excellence
- The Marketing Society - Teamwork award winner
Volunteering
Currently chair of Downs Syndrome Derby charity and have been volunteering for 6 years
Timeline
Group Project Manager
Ferrero
2015.08 - Current
Brand manager
Thorntons
2008.08 - 2015.08
Product Manager
Thorntons
2001.04 - 2008.08
Mail Order Assistant
Thorntons
1999.07 - 2001.04
Project management certification -
Prince 2
2022 -
CIM Professional Diploma in marketing -
University of Derby
2006 -
Excel intermediate -
Internal
2013 -