I am an experienced General Manager in food manufacturing and site operations. I am an approachable, people-oriented leader who drives organizational change, continuous improvement, and project management, with success achieved through excellence in team communication and engagement as a core focus I have a proven track record across multi-site processing and supply chains, leading teams through change, implementing automation and modern maintenance practices, and delivering budgeted outcomes. I excel at aligning operations with strategic goals and building high-performing teams.

Richard Smith

I am an experienced General Manager in food manufacturing and site operations. I am an approachable, people-oriented leader who drives organizational change, continuous improvement, and project management, with success achieved through excellence in team communication and engagement as a core focus I have a proven track record across multi-site processing and supply chains, leading teams through change, implementing automation and modern maintenance practices, and delivering budgeted outcomes. I excel at aligning operations with strategic goals and building high-performing teams.

Available to hire

I am an experienced General Manager in food manufacturing and site operations. I am an approachable, people-oriented leader who drives organizational change, continuous improvement, and project management, with success achieved through excellence in team communication and engagement as a core focus

I have a proven track record across multi-site processing and supply chains, leading teams through change, implementing automation and modern maintenance practices, and delivering budgeted outcomes. I excel at aligning operations with strategic goals and building high-performing teams.

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Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

General Manager (Processing) at The New Zealand King Salmon Company
April 1, 2025 - October 1, 2025
Interim role covering all Processing and Supply Chain activities; responsibilities included health and safety culture creation, management and monitoring; full site operational budgetary performance and Capex responsibility for multiple factories. Direct reports: 6.
Projects and Engineering Manager at The New Zealand King Salmon Company
November 1, 2020 - March 31, 2025
Managed a team of site maintenance engineers, spare parts inventory controller/planner and project engineers. Reported to COO. Introduced MEX (maintenance software). Switched team from reactive maintenance to preventive maintenance.
Processing Project and Strategy Manager at The New Zealand King Salmon Company
June 1, 2019 - November 1, 2020
Role to develop Processing strategy and automation plan.
Operations Manager at JH Whitaker & Sons
March 1, 2018 - June 1, 2019
Full site operational management role (Chocolate Manufacturing).
Consultant at Fresh Path Consulting
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2017
Assisted local food companies with significant change projects.
Group Technical Manager at Sealord Group Ltd
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
International role covering factories and vessels in New Zealand, Tasmania, UK and Australia; Reported to CEO; Responsible for teams covering new product and packaging and process development, Quality and Compliance.
Technical Manager at The New Zealand King Salmon Company
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2015
Technical Manager.
Process Development and Packaging Manager at G.W Padley Ltd
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2005
Multi-factory site responsible for process development and packaging; customer facing role.
Quality Supervisor at The Pizza Factory, Northern Foods PLC
January 1, 1994 - December 31, 2002
Pizza and quick-serve manufacturing; quality control.
Production Supervisor at Pennine Foods, Northern Foods PLC
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1994
Chilled sandwich and recipe manufacturing; production supervision.
Production Development Technician at Northern Foods PLC, Sheffield
January 1, 1990 - January 1, 1992
Pasta, Sauces, Salad, Meat cooking, Sandwich and recipe processing.
Graduate Trainee at Northern Foods PLC, Nottingham
January 1, 1989 - January 1, 1990
6 month programme; initial exposure to the business.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at University of Sheffield
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2002
MBA, General Management at University of Lincoln
January 11, 2030 - December 31, 2010
Crisis and Media Management Training at Sweeney & Media Consultants, Wellington
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
5 Day Company Directors Course at NZ Institute of Directors, Auckland
January 11, 2030 - February 10, 2026

Qualifications

Crisis and Media Management Training
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
CPIM - Certificate of Production and Inventory Management
January 11, 2030 - February 10, 2026
5 Day Company Directors Course
January 11, 2030 - February 10, 2026

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Professional Services, Other

Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate