Case study

VP Food Preservation Protection

United Kingdom
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THE CHALLENGE

Miramar was retained by Kerry Taste & Nutrition to appoint the VP, Food Protection & Preservation. This executive would lead the global, matrix business and own the P&L. The challenge was to find the candidate who had deep technical expertise within food protection technologies but also had the relevant leadership skills, commercial and market knowledge to build and scale the business. 

THE SOLUTION

Due to the small market in Food Protection, Miramar analysed Kerry’s key competitors, including their organisational structure, strategy and leadership. This led to a comprehensive market mapping of the key competitive talent across Europe & the USA. This, along with sourcing, referencing and cross-referencing, led to the identification of several candidates in both Europe and the USA.

THE RESULT

We partnered closely with the President and HR VP throughout the search to ensure we provided market analysis and data to inform their decision making. Whilst the right blend of technical and commercial experience in Food Protection was the priority, we could not compromise on leadership skills, cultural fit, development potential and overall calibre.  This led to:  

  • 72 candidates assessed with detailed market research provided to contribute to future talent planning.   
  • A diverse shortlist of 7 candidates was presented, split across Europe & the US.   
  • First choice candidate offered and accepted.   
  • Market mapping & intelligence are being used for future hires.

The impact

The Impact

This appointment provided Kerry with a leader who could not only drive the Food Protection & Preservation division forward but also strengthen its long-term market positioning. The new VP brought the rare combination of technical depth and commercial acumen required to scale the business globally, aligning innovation with profitable growth. Beyond the immediate hire, Kerry benefited from:  

  • Enhanced succession planning through comprehensive market mapping across the US and Europe.  ‍
  • Actionable competitive intelligence that informed broader organizational strategy.  ‍
  • Increased diversity of leadership talent, supporting Kerry’s global and inclusive growth agenda.  

Long-term talent pipeline development, enabling the business to anticipate future leadership needs in a highly specialized market.