Mary Kennedy

• Led governance, risk management and business readiness for the £3m SAP Integrated Product Development (SAP IPD) implementation, while leading the Technical Specifications workstream and also supporting PPWR Regulatory changes.
• Managed cross-functional teams, balancing competing priorities and tight project timelines to deliver key programme milestones.
• Developed an enhanced governance model, introducing KPI reporting, Power BI dashboards and governance forums that improved visibility, accountability and decision-making.
• Partnered with Procurement, D&T, Technical & Regulatory teams and external suppliers to strengthen collaboration, improve data quality, accelerate supplier onboarding and embed new ways of working.
• Successfully delivered SAP IPD into Business as Usual, strengthening data governance and creating the foundations for benefits realisation, margin enhancement and future regulatory compliance.

• Successfully delivered a portfolio of 60+ concurrent projects, focused on productivity, cost reduction, supply optimisation and business continuity
• Led and developed a team of Supply Optimisation Project Managers, creating a collaborative, high-performing environment while balancing multiple business priorities.
• Led BRCGS and FSSC supplier assurance programme across packaging and raw material suppliers.
• Partnered with Procurement to ensure continuity of supply and supplier performance.
• Strengthened supplier governance, compliance and operational resilience.

• Managed the technical project portfolio supporting productivity and value delivery.
• Implemented Planview to prioritise workload and improve portfolio governance.
• Enhanced reporting, prioritisation and resource planning.
• Implemented cost-effective solutions for enhancing profitability without compromising quality standards.

• Owned end-to-end technical delivery to reduce cogs, advancing sustainability from concept to commercialisation.
• Led cross-functional teams and managed supplier engagement to drive business benefit delivery.
• Led stakeholder engagement workshops, setting communication standards for consistent messaging.
• Managed financial planning to keep budgets aligned with delivery requirements.

Key Achievements

• Led the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), budgeting and forecasting for a manufacturing site with a £25m operating cost base.
• Managed financial governance and reporting for £40m of Brand Change investment and a £35m Capital Expenditure portfolio.
• Delivered COGS analysis, product costing and Origination forecasting, supporting productivity, margin improvement and production planning.
• Produced financial analysis, scenario modelling and performance reporting to support strategic planning and investment decisions.
• Business Partner to Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Commercial leaders, influencing operational performance through commercial insight and robust financial challenge.
• Member of the Site Senior Leadership Team, contributing to business strategy, financial governance and operational decision-making

• Supported financial reporting, forecasting and business performance analysis.

• Managed Purchase to Pay processes, supplier payments and financial controls.

• Provided commercial analysis, financial reporting and business partnering support.