Pladis UK & Ireland has appointed Taryn-Lisa Molle-McConnell to the role of vice president of R&D.
As the latest addition to the predominantly female leadership team at the UK&I division of the global snacking company, she will be responsible for helping grow its category-leading reputation for innovation within sweet and savoury biscuits and cakes. McVitie’s, Jacob’s, and Carr’s are among the brands in its portfolio.
“Taryn brings a wealth of experience as an R&D leader, with over 20 years of strategic research and development roles in various FMCG companies across European and global markets,” commented Pladis UK&I managing director David Murray.
Molle-McConnell joins from her most recent position as global senior director for flavour & seasoning at PepsiCo. She previously worked for the likes of McCormick, Mondelēz, and AVI, the largest biscuit producer in South Africa.
In addition to a degree in Food Technology, Molle-McConnell has over a decade of experience in the sugar and sweetener sector where she received training as a confectioner and completed multiple courses at the Sugar Milling Research Institute and Campden BRI.
“I am looking forward to working across such a fantastic portfolio of category-leading brands,” says Molle-McConnell. “Pladis has a much envied reputation for creating game-changing innovation and I look forward to the challenge of working with a first class team as we look to build on such an incredible legacy.”
Out of 13 leadership positions at Pladis UK&I, nine are now held by female leaders. Appointments in recent years include CFO Shruti Chauhan, procurement director Jennifer Parise, impulse sales director Florence Brain, strategy & insights director Anne Collard, and CMO Asli Özen Turhan.
These have joined longer standing members such as VP supply chain Nina Sparks, commercialisation director Claire Wright, and strategy & transformation director Sinead McFarlane. Male colleagues completing the line up are vice president HR Craig Spickett, commercial planning director Graham Taylor, and VP grocery Trevor Callander.
MD Murray said Pladis’ UK&I business has been going from strength to strength with its “industry-leading pipeline of innovation being key to that growth”. He added that Molle-McConnell’s wealth of experience would “no doubt charge this agenda even further for us”.
Recent NPD launches include Penguin & Friends biscuits by McVitie’s, caramelised red onion flavoured Melts by Carr’s, and Smoked Cheddar and Cheddar & Roasted Tomato Mini Cheddars by Jacob’s (see pictured above).
Pladis announced a £2m investment on a new warehouse in Carlisle last August, and more recently revealed a proposed restructuring of its Aintree factory in Liverpool, where it makes Jacob’s crackers. A consultation plan with its 763-strong workforce there is currently underway, with around half expected to be made redundant by the end of this year.
The company currently employs a total of 16,000 staff worldwide, spanning 27 bakeries across 11 countries. Fulya Fraser was appointed chief growth officer just over a year ago to help accelerate global growth at Pladis.
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