Leatherhead Food Research's CEO, Paul Berryman, is stepping down from his role in order to pursue new career opportunities.
"After two years as research director and nearly six as CEO, I think it’s time to pass on the baton," said Berryman. "It has been an honor and privilege to lead an organization with such a superb reputation and caliber of staff. I have particularly enjoyed working with such friendly and intelligent colleagues and being involved in so many interesting research projects that have a real effect on foods that we eat every day."
Geoff Spriegel, Leatherhead's chairman, will step in as CEO in an interim capacity. "The process to recruit a new CEO will commence immediately," said Spriegel.
Berryman's highlights over the last eight years include: rebranding and restructuring the company resulting in four science platforms and a world-renowned regulatory service. He helped turn the company around from loss making (2001-2006) to profitable and helped to develop new services for clients including SenseReach, a new iPad-based consumer research tool; FoodLaunch, a strategic partnership with Mintel, and DirtyLab, designed to deliberately contaminate food and equipment with bacteria to study sanitation techniques. He also helped to develop research programs, leading to innovative partnerships with Universities and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
