Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
References
Other Interests
Research Projects
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Publications
Training
Languages
References
Timeline
Generic

Farhana Rahman

Summary

A hard working and skilled professional with expertise in strategic planning, leadership, and problem-solving. Have good communication skills and public speaking abilities, remaining calm under pressure. Committed to driving organisational success through effective strategic initiatives and leadership.

Overview

2
2
Languages
7
7
years of post-secondary education
23
23
years of professional experience

Work history

European Lead for Strategic Global Accounts

Givaudan
Milton Keynes
2025.07 - Current
  • Lead cross-functional collaboration, aligning solutions to drive growth across strategic accounts.
  • Manage key and strategic global accounts across Europe.
  • Delivered 20% growth on average over last three years building strategic accounts

Key Account Manager for UK & Ireland

Naturex/Givaudan UK
Overseal, Derbyshire
2013.04 - 2025.06
  • Led commercial activity within Botanicals, Teas, Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical accounts in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
  • Maintained and grew business in line with development plans, budgeted targets and objectives.
  • Effectively managed projects while working closely with internal R+D, Application, Regulatory and Business Unit teams.
  • Represented Givaudan at various Trade Associations and work closely with the HFMA, BHMA and MHRA while working actively in area of Teas, VHMS and Traditional Herbal Medicines.

Formulation Scientist/NPD Manager

Provexis plc
Windsor, Windsor and Maidenhead
2010.12 - 2013.04
  • Led formulation development and innovation across company's product range which includes Science in Sport Ltd portfolio of nutrition products for elite athletes.
  • As part of Innovations Team monitored consumer and competitor trends and new research in area of sports nutrition.
  • Accountable for NPD project management and effective interaction with Quality, Procurement, Sales and Marketing teams through project timelines and critical paths in order to ensure timely delivery and to keep project consumer relevant throughout NPD funnel.
  • Demonstrated technical and commercial feasibility of all new products, process and packaging innovation. Accountable for legal and regulatory compliance for all new products. Accountable for ensuring freedom to operate and protection of new IP.
  • Accountable for raw material and supplier rationalization along with Buyer and Technical Manager. Led raw material and packaging cost saving programme. Responsible for establishing contacts with contract manufacturers and co-packers as needed with each innovation project. In conjunction with other team members, recruitment of appropriate technical staff.

Key Achievements:

  • Successful and timely launch of three new products under Science in Sport range between August 2011 and August 2012
  • Established links and managed NPD with two new contract manufacturers as part of product launch.
  • Successfully delivered product and process optimization on nutritional bar line.

Senior Development Technologist

William Ransom & Son plc
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
2006.12 - 2010.12
  • Provide technical and regulatory support to customers in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industry and support NPD with Ransom range of botanical extracts and APIs. Main technical contact for key food and beverage accounts within the UK, EU and North America. Provide technical support to Business Development Manager for both UK and overseas markets through presentations and meeting new and existing customers.
  • Attended key technical seminars, conferences and food & beverage trade shows. Work closely with PR and Marketing teams. Help with writing up articles and adverts for food and beverage industry publications.
  • Developed novel ways of applying tea and other botanical extracts and natural flavours into food and beverage to drive NPD and in response to sales and marketing briefs. Manage internal NPD for Ransom own brand of functional beverages.
  • Managed external projects and liaise with food and beverage manufacturers including PepsiCo, Innocent, Britvic, Vimto, Starbucks, M&S (near water range with botanicals), Serious Food Company, Halewood International and Firefly Tonics. Liaise with QA, buying, sales and marketing teams to ensure compliance across business.

Key Achievements:

  • New accounts with UK beverage manufacturers – Firefly Tonics, V Water (part of PepsiCo), Squeeze Me Juices, Innocent Smoothies, Halewood International.
  • Successful launch of new range of Firefly Tonics in the UK
  • New overseas accounts with Braeckman Distilleries, Belgium; Vitamin Well Drinks, Sweden; My Smoothie, Sweden.
  • Successful and timely redevelopment of Ransom Naturals range of functional drinks and help achieve more than targeted level of cost efficiency.
  • Successfully managed product development for Aloe Pura Juices and Ransom Naturals functional drinks launched into Waitrose and Tesco in May 2010.

NPD Technologist (Pickles & Sauces)

Premier International Foods
, UK
2005.11 - 2006.11
  • Responsible for NPD from concept through to launch and assist with ongoing re-engineering of existing products in manufacture. Liaise as a technical contact with UK food retailers - Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. Take part in site audits conducted by the customer. Liaise with food laboratories and ingredient suppliers. Attend trials and first production runs in the factory to make sure that quality standards get communicated and understood by the factory personnel.

Key Achievements:

  • Product launches with UK retailers – Tesco Tomato Chutney, Tesco Onion Chutney, Tesco Sweetcorn & Pepper Relish, Tesco Onion Relish, Tesco BBQ Relish, Tesco BBQ Sauce, Waitrose Salad Cream, Sainsbury's BGTY Salad Cream, Sainsbury's Salad Cream, Branston Pickles.

R&D Executive

Himalaya Drug Company
, India
2004.01 - 2005.02
  • To set up a food and beverage development lab. Train a sensory panel and regular evaluation of the panel members. Beverage development for people with special physiological conditions like pregnant ladies and diabetic patients using natural ingredients. Planning and execution of market research and consumer trials for the above products at various stages of development.

Key Achievements:

  • Successful setting up of development lab and training a sensory panel.
  • Development and launch of a herbal anti-stress drink and a malted beverage.

Education

Certificate of Higher Education - Leading in a Changing World: Navigating Global Megatrends for Strategic Advantage

University of Cambridge
Cambridge
2026.03 - 2026.03

MSc - Food Management

University of Surrey
UK
2002.01 - 2003.01

MSc - Food Technology

Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore
2000.01 - 2002.01

BSc - Food and Nutrition

Assam Agricultural University
Jorhat
1996.01 - 2000.01

Skills

  • Calm under pressure
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication skills
  • Public speaking
  • Strategic planning
  • Leadership

References

Available upon request

Other Interests

Creative Writing, Music, Spanish Guitar, Travel, Cooking and Baking

Research Projects

MSc Dissertation at University of Surrey, UK: To study the “attitude of people towards fast food in India and Britain”. It was an exploratory research and performed in both countries using a structured questionnaire., MSc Investigation at CFTRI, Mysore: Performed a study on preparation of “health flakes from brown rice and its storage stability”. It involved preparation of flakes from unpolished rice and coating them with guar gum and maltodextrin. Tests were performed periodically to measure moisture gain, FFA, total fat, oxidative rancidity by TBA method and loss of vitamin B1 on both coated and uncoated samples. Hardness test was performed to measure final acceptability of the flakes., MSc Dissertation at CFTRI, Mysore: Prepared a report on previous research done in assessing the “nutritive value of RTE breakfast cereal flakes”., Studied the “Medicinal value of Briophyllum sp. in dissolving kidney stones” as a part of my biochemistry project.

Accomplishments

  • University Gold Medal for securing first position in First Degree (Food & Nutrition)
  • Miss GV Subaima Memorial Gold Medal for securing distinction marks in First Degree (Food & Nutrition)

Affiliations

  • IFT - Professional Member
  • Reviewer for the USDA's SBIR Phase I, Food Science and Nutrition Program.

Publications

  • Functional Botanicals, Beverage Innovation, Issue 75 – May 2010
  • Botanicals: back to basics, Water Innovation, Issue 54 – May/June 2009
  • Contributed in the article on Green Tea by Michelle Knott, Food Ingredients Health &Nutrition, October/November 2008
  • Botanical Extracts – An Ingredient for food and drinks, Anno 18 – No 5, Sept/Oct 2007, Agro FOOD Industry hi-tech
  • Speaker at IUFoST 2010 - 15th World Congress of Food Science and Technology (Cape Town, SA)
  • Speaker at the 5th Annual Conference on Innovations in Functional Drinks, 23-24th April 2008, Crown Plaza Docklands Hotel, London. Organized by AGRA Informa.

Training

  • GCP Training, Infonetica Research Solutions, NG24 2TN (March 2011)
  • GMP Training, Ransom, SG5 1RT (August 2010)
  • Project Management, University of East Anglia, UK (July 2010)
  • Ingredients for Functional Beverages, LFI, UK
  • HACCP, LFI, UK

Languages

English
Fluent
Hindi
Fluent

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Certificate of Higher Education - Leading in a Changing World: Navigating Global Megatrends for Strategic Advantage

University of Cambridge
2026.03 - 2026.03

European Lead for Strategic Global Accounts

Givaudan
2025.07 - Current

Key Account Manager for UK & Ireland

Naturex/Givaudan UK
2013.04 - 2025.06

Formulation Scientist/NPD Manager

Provexis plc
2010.12 - 2013.04

Senior Development Technologist

William Ransom & Son plc
2006.12 - 2010.12

NPD Technologist (Pickles & Sauces)

Premier International Foods
2005.11 - 2006.11

R&D Executive

Himalaya Drug Company
2004.01 - 2005.02

MSc - Food Management

University of Surrey
2002.01 - 2003.01

MSc - Food Technology

Central Food Technological Research Institute
2000.01 - 2002.01

BSc - Food and Nutrition

Assam Agricultural University
1996.01 - 2000.01
Farhana Rahman