Tim Chater
Somerset
Summary
CEO / Strategic Commercial Leader – Specialist in Venture Scaling, Partnerships, and Industrial Growth. Entrepreneurial and commercially astute executive with deep cross-sectoral experience spanning global manufacturing, innovation commercialisation, and high-growth ventures. Proven track record in identifying and executing international growth strategies, structuring joint ventures and strategic partnerships, and scaling operations across EMEA and AsiaPac. Foundation in industrial processes and organisational transformation, underpinned by consultancy discipline and leadership roles. Skilled at aligning innovation with market opportunity, unlocking new revenue streams, and delivering multi-million-pound commercial outcomes. Effective with Boards, C-suite, technical teams and investors – a trusted leader across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial and Ops lead
Aceae Nutra Ltd (ANL)
01.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: IP focused start-up combines plant, agronomic and pharma expertise to generate solutions for human/ animal health.
- Joined business as NxD to develop technology/ commercial roadmaps for novel IP portfolio.
- Steered project to in-licence in corporate agri-feed to secure worldwide development agreement with AB Agri for plant-based antivirals worth c.£50M over 10 years.
- IP focused start-up combines plant, agronomic and pharma expertise to generate solutions for human/ animal health.
Managing Director / Founder
Phoenix Ventures Ltd
01.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Phoenix Ventures sits at interface between start-ups, corporates, and investors.
- Advisory business commercialisation of IP in #bioscience #agritech and #foodtech.
- Clients SME’s, family office, Government, FTSE 100 PLC, corporate.
- Phoenix Ventures sits at interface between start-ups, corporates, and investors.
Head of New Ventures
Pilot Lite Ventures Ltd
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Working with corporate clients to commercialise IP in Europe and Africa.
- Oversaw the launch of 12 consumer goods businesses for Pepsico/ Diageo forecast to reach turnover of £275M.
- Sourced / evaluated > 600 ventures for clients resulting in 6 acquisitions.
Managing Director / Finance Director / Founder
Future Drinks Co Ltd
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: IP centric consumer business developing a range of branded, natural low-sugar drinks.
- Raised £1M million debt and equity, with business exited via trade sale in 2015.
- IP centric consumer business developing a range of branded, natural low-sugar drinks.
Commercial Consulting Director
Zenith International Ltd
01.2006 - 01.2009
General Manager – Marketing
Premier Foods plc
01.2004 - 01.2005
General Manager, UK & Ireland
Canderel (Merisant S.A.)
01.2001 - 01.2003
Acceleration Manager
Nestlé S.A.
01.1998 - 01.2001
Marketing Manager
Nestlé Australia Ltd
01.1994 - 01.1998
up to National Account Manager
Nestlé Waters
01.1989 - 01.1994
Non-Executive Director
Nordic Virtual Pastures (NVP)
01.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: NED in start-up funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation at Bio Innovation Institute, Copenhagen.
- NED in start-up funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation at Bio Innovation Institute, Copenhagen.
Subject Matter Expert / Mentor
Rockstart / Carbon13/ Northern Triangle
01.2020 - Current
- Work closely with incubators and accelerators focused on Bio – Solutions and Planetary Health.
Education
Executive MBA - undefined
University of Bath
BA (Hons) - Geography
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Skills
- Venture Building
- New Market Entry
- Strategic Planning
- Technology Roadmap Development
- Corporate Engagement
- Team building
- Talent management
- Decision making
- Leadership
- Customer Development
- Business Development
- Financial Management
- Risk Management
- IP strategy
- Product Alignment
- Market Alignment
- Negotiation
- Supply Chain Optimisation
- Fund Raising
- Building enterprise resilience
Languages
English
French
Spanish
Professional Highlights
- ANL, Brought on to drive strategic planning. Proposed corporate collaboration business model; led negotiations with 3 corporates; and developed IP strategy, business model & governance. Succeeded in securing 2 global joint developments worth c£50M p/a with enterprise value rising 10-fold during tenure.
- BIC Innovation, Led new project to create sustainable solution- developed fully costed plans with investment grade financials; gained Government approval to create consortium to enable a £50M regenerative, sustainable & self-sufficient solution.
- Future Drinks, As founder MD/ FD, I led fundraising to attract inward equity & debt; managed to develop IP; developed business plan & pitch decks; and pitched to 50+ angels & angel groups. Succeeded in having product distributed in >400 independent groceries, 4 off-trade chains & >450 on-trade outlets – exited in 2015 to trade buyer.
Professional Development
Chartered Institute of Marketing, Professional level
Board Advisory Roles
- 2023-01-01, present, Nordic Virtual Pastures (NVP), Non-Executive Director, NED in start-up funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation at Bio Innovation Institute, Copenhagen.
- 2020-01-01, present, Rockstart / Carbon13/ Northern Triangle, Subject Matter Expert / Mentor, Work closely with incubators and accelerators focused on Bio – Solutions and Planetary Health.
Additional Information
Industrial Fellow, University of Bath School of Management, 2015-01-01, IP commercialisation, Business ethics in practice, Presenting live case study, SME governance, Corporate venturing, Entrepreneurship and innovation
Timeline
Non-Executive Director
Nordic Virtual Pastures (NVP)
01.2023 - Current
Commercial and Ops lead
Aceae Nutra Ltd (ANL)
01.2022 - Current
Managing Director / Founder
Phoenix Ventures Ltd
01.2020 - Current
Subject Matter Expert / Mentor
Rockstart / Carbon13/ Northern Triangle
01.2020 - Current
Head of New Ventures
Pilot Lite Ventures Ltd
01.2015 - 01.2020
Managing Director / Finance Director / Founder
Future Drinks Co Ltd
01.2010 - 01.2015
Commercial Consulting Director
Zenith International Ltd
01.2006 - 01.2009
General Manager – Marketing
Premier Foods plc
01.2004 - 01.2005
General Manager, UK & Ireland
Canderel (Merisant S.A.)
01.2001 - 01.2003
Acceleration Manager
Nestlé S.A.
01.1998 - 01.2001
Marketing Manager
Nestlé Australia Ltd
01.1994 - 01.1998
up to National Account Manager
Nestlé Waters
01.1989 - 01.1994
Executive MBA - undefined
University of Bath
BA (Hons) - Geography
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
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