VP / Business Unit Head, Food Systems

Confidential client: the Indian arm of a global thermal processing and heat exchanger group, with its own manufacturing facility near Pune and a market-leading position in Indian fruit pulp processing systems.

Position snapshot

• Title: Vice President / Business Unit Head, Food Systems
• Location: Pune, Maharashtra (manufacturing facility); candidates must be able to relocate to Pune
• Reports to: Managing Director / CEO
• Direct reports: Sales, Projects, Product and Process Engineering, and Service and Aftermarket for the Food Systems BU
• Nature of role: succession hire for the current BU head
• Compensation: in line with industry standards and experience

Why this role exists

The Food Systems business unit is the group's high-growth division in India. Under its current leader it became the dominant supplier of fruit pulp processing systems in the country and expanded into dairy, beverages, sauces and ready-to-eat foods. This is a planned succession. The incoming leader carries that legacy forward, drives the next phase of growth, opens new food processing applications and strengthens the company's position as India's preferred partner for hygienic food processing solutions.

Purpose of the role

Lead the entire Food Systems business unit as its P&L owner: business strategy, sales growth, technical excellence, project delivery, customer relationships, team leadership and market expansion. You will be the face of the company's food processing business in India and key international markets.

What the business unit does

• Systems and turnkey lines: packaged pasteurisers and sterilisers with aseptic fillers, multitube and double tube pasteurisers for products with particulates, direct steam injection and UHT systems, diced fruit pasteurisers, multi-effect evaporators, CIP and SIP systems, frozen juice melting systems, and complete turnkey fruit, beverage and dairy processing lines.
• Applications: fruit pulp and puree (mango, guava, tomato, apple, pineapple, pomegranate), juices (2,000 to 40,000 LPH), dairy (milk, UHT, yogurt, cheese, whey), beverages including plant-based drinks, sauces and ketchup, ready-to-eat foods and baby food, tomato processing, nutraceuticals and ORS, confectionery and chocolate, and edible oils and fats.
• Processes: pre-heating, HTST pasteurisation, sterilisation, UHT, aseptic filling, evaporation and concentration, cooling and chilling, CIP, SIP, particulate pasteurisation, frozen juice melting, and heat recovery of up to 90%.
• Core technology: corrugated tube, scraped surface, plate, double tube and annular space heat exchangers.
• Customers: fruit and vegetable processors, dairies, beverage makers, sauce and condiment producers, RTE and QSR supply chains, nutraceutical, confectionery and plant-based food manufacturers.

Key responsibilities

1. Business leadership and P&L ownership

• Own the complete BU P&L with full revenue, margin and growth accountability.
• Build and execute the annual business plan, sales strategy and long-term roadmap.
• Grow revenue in dairy, beverages, sauces, RTE and nutraceuticals while consolidating leadership in fruit pulp processing.
• Identify new market opportunities, product applications and geographic expansion.

2. Technical and product leadership

• Provide technical leadership in pasteurisation, UHT, sterilisation, evaporation, aseptic processing and CIP.
• Work with R&D and engineering on product innovation, process optimisation and customised solutions.
• Lead process consultancy engagements with food, dairy and beverage manufacturers.
• Track global food processing technology trends and bring the right innovations to India.

3. Sales and key account management

• Build relationships with key clients across food processing, dairy, beverage, pharma and FMCG.
• Lead complex consultative sales cycles: technical presentations, pilot trials and proposals.
• Manage strategic accounts for retention, repeat business and referrals.
• Represent the company at industry events such as Anuga FoodTec, CII Food Tech and dairy industry summits.

4. Project delivery and operations

• Oversee end-to-end execution: process design, engineering, fabrication, FAT, installation, commissioning and handover.
• Deliver projects on time, on budget and to quality.
• Improve project management, supply chain and manufacturing coordination.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene (3A, EHEDG) and regulatory standards.

5. Team building and people leadership

• Lead and develop sales, project, product and process engineers, draughtsmen and service engineers.
• Build a succession pipeline for critical BU roles.
• Foster technical excellence, customer centricity and accountability.
• Partner with HR on hiring, performance management and capability building.

6. Stakeholder management

• Act as the primary interface between the India Food Systems BU and global group leadership.
• Coordinate with the Pune plant on production planning, quality and capacity.
• Work with the group's global R&D centre on technology transfer and new products.
• Engage industry bodies and government agencies such as MOFPI, CFTRI and APEDA.

What you bring

Qualifications

• B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Chemical or Food Technology Engineering (mandatory).
• MBA / PGDM in Marketing or Operations (preferred).
• Certifications in food safety (HACCP, FSSC 22000) or hygienic design (EHEDG, 3A) are a plus.

Experience

• 18 to 25 years in food processing equipment, thermal processing technology or turnkey food processing solutions. Exposure to food process equipment is a must.
• At least 5 to 8 years as a BU head or senior leader with full P&L responsibility.
• A track record of selling and delivering capital equipment or turnkey projects to the food, dairy or beverage industry.
• Deep understanding of heat exchanger applications in food: pasteurisation, UHT, evaporation and aseptic filling.
• Experience with multinational engineering companies or equipment OEMs serving the food industry.
• A strong network across Indian food processing, dairy and beverage manufacturers.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking, business acumen and P&L orientation
• Technical depth in food processing, thermal processing and hygienic design
• Consultative and solution selling of complex capital equipment
• Strong EPC and turnkey project execution
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management
• People leadership and a reputation for long-term client relationships

All applications are handled in confidence by a Dedicated HR Services partner. The client is named to shortlisted candidates only.