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MEET THE TEAM
Brought together through a shared passion for food & beverage, our team is multi-lingual and multi-national which creates a truly global culture. As sensory experts, we work on all sensory projects, where size doesn’t matter but quality does. With years of experience advising the largest food & beverage brands, our global sensory team is second to none!
Board Of Directors
Richard Boughton
CEO
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
Born in Liverpool, a Beatles fan who decided to train as a brewer after both my father and grandfather. Hence after graduating in Microbiology, I later qualified as a Master Brewer in a major brewing Company followed by being self employed in a small family business providing equipment to breweries. The experience gained led to developing a number of small and continuing diverse businesses across industry such as Business Centres and Accountancy Practice. My main role however has been to lead FlavorActiV for 20 years where I continue as CEO today, supported by our globally based leadership team. This has been an exciting journey developing our customers’ tasting skills in order to assess their brand quality in breweries, beverage plants and now food manufacturers My hobbies are many including real tennis, golf, skiing, motor sport and cooking. Until Covid I travelled almost weekly across the globe to support our regional teams and local customers which provided a great “window on the world”.
Marie Pohler
Commercial Director
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: Taiwanese, English & Mandarin
I hold a double degree in Economics and Psychology from The Ohio State University, USA. I started working at FlavorActiV in 2009 and have gone through a series of role change. I worked as a sensory manager, then key account director for 7 years until I moved into my commercial director role in 2018. My days at FlavorActiV keep me very busy in overseeing the divisions of marketing, finance, business support & proficiency management as well as some key account management responsibilities. That said, I am fortunate enough to be supported by a very capable team. In addition to my work at FlavorActiV, I also co-chair a sensory committee at ISBT ( International Society of Beverage Technologists ) as well as their BevTech Europe planning committee. Although I was born in Taiwan, I have spent 2/3 of my life living in the US and the UK. When I’m not working, I enjoy travelling, meeting people of different cultures, Asian & fusion cooking, country walks, Jazz, Yoga and exploring food & drinks pairing with friends and families.
Dr Boris Gadzov
Director of Global Sensory
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: Macedonian, Polish, German, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Bulgarian, English, Russian
Dr Boris Gadzov has been FlavorActiV Director of Global Sensory Management since 2009. Boris began as a Global Sensory Manger, professional trainer and adviser in brand equity, product quality, insight/innovation and taster management. Boris has visited over 450 plants in beverage and food sector, plus worked with more than 3500 clients in 90+ countries. His significant language skills have helped develop business overseas, and provide global beverage and multi-language support to FlavorActiV’s customers. Before Boris joined FlavorActiV he gained a PhD in Food Molecular Microbiology from the University of Vienna.
Dale Smith
Technical Director
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
Originally from London but have lived and worked all over the UK and in Singapore, I trained as a Forensic Scientist with Degrees in Forensic Science and Psychology. Working at the UK’s Forensic Science Service for 7 years, specialising in the analysis of Drugs of Abuse, later in the location and recovery of latent fingermarks on evidence. My experience led to me moving into product development within the private sector – novel nanoparticle based fingerprint powders and suspensions that could be interrogated by MALDI-TOF analytical systems for contact residues containing drugs and explosive indicators. At FlavorActiV my role is Technical Director – overseeing product development such as our GMP Flavour Standards and TVS software, research, IT systems, product quality and our focus on human / machine. I’ve been with FlavorActiV for over 10 years where my past skills with analytical and product development have helped in supporting our team and customers.
Chris Shennan
CFO
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
Born in London, I studied Accountancy & Finance at University, and went on to qualify as a Chartered Certified Accountant. I have been working with with FlavorActiV since 2010, on a largely part time basis, offering CFO & NED support to the board. In addition to my work with FlavorActiV I sit on the board as either CEO or NED for a number of SME’s, and run an Accountancy Practice covering the home counties. Outside of work, I am a keen footballer, and runner, having completed my first marathon in 2023.
Regional Sensory Directors
Evelyne Canterranne
Regional Director, EMEA
REGION: EMEALANGUAGES: French, English
I have 25 years experience as a sensory trainer in the food and beverage sector, with a specialist focus on alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks. Travelling, meeting new people and developing sensory abilities are my passion. Surprisingly I didn't like beer when I started my first job in the UK doing Brewing and Malty research, but learned to appreciate the diversity of styles and their flavours.
Tina Tian
Regional Director, APAC
REGION: APACLANGUAGES: Mandarin, English
Before I joined FlavorActiV as a Global Sensory Manager, I gained a Master degree (MBA) in the UK. I have over 13 years of experience as sensory trainer in food and beverage, and have delivered various sensory training courses and sensory projects. In 2017 I started a new role of APAC Regional Director leading APAC sensory team to help our clients in sensory field from quality to R&D department. I also enjoy travelling and like new sensory ideas in training, testing, and new product development, believing food and beverage bring joy to our daily life.
Dr Katia Jorge
Regional Director, Americas
REGION: AMERICASLANGUAGES: Portuguese, Spanish, English, German
Passionate about sensory throughout my professional life, I joined FlavorActiV in 2011, although the relationship started 10 years earlier as a part-time job, to help develop the market in Brazil. I have a team of sensory specialists who together with me are responsible for the entire continent of America. My educational background includes a graduation in chemical engineering, master science degree in biochemistry and doctorate in food science, besides being brewmaster and beer sommelier. Beer is one of my passions too, so I still find time to brew some beers and participate as professional judge in beer competitions. As a resident of Rio de Janeiro, the beach is my backyard. That´s where I go to meet friends, to swim and to enjoy a good beer after a day of work.
Our Sensory Specialists
Larisa Anno
Global Sensory Manager
REGION: EMEALANGUAGES: Russian, English, French
My motto is to be in harmony with what you are and what you do.Have got a great experiece in teaching and training people. In 2018 I joined the FlavorActiV Team as a global sensory manager. Here I found a unique philosophy of life and business which gives me a lot of motivation. Each day brings an opportunity to assist our customers in improving the quality of their products.This makes me happy! My educational background is Moscow State Pedagogical University and the University of Surrey. Hobbies are: travelling and communicating with people, Arts and Music.
Nina Zviadadze
Global Sensory Manager
REGION: EMEALANGUAGES: English, Russian, Georgian
I have worked as a Sensory Specialist of beverages and Food industry since 2018, with extensive experience in Quality Department for the Beer, CSD, Water industry. I have a double master's degree in Organic Chemistry and Food Hygiene. It was a life-changing moment when I started work with FlavorActiV LTD as Global Sensory Manager for Northeastern Europe and the Caucasus, giving support to the customers and deliver sensory training in English, Russian and Georgian.
Vincentia Smaratika
Global Sensory Manager
REGION: APACLANGUAGES: Indonesian, English
Have been working as an R&D in F&B company in Indonesia for 5 years before joining FlavorActiV on October 2018. It was a life-changing moment when I met FlavorActiV APAC Director in SenseAsia conference in Malaysia on May 2018. Now I enjoy my role as Global Sensory Manager for Southeast Asia, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, giving support to the customers and deliver sensory training in English or Bahasa Indonesia, also travelling to many countries. I have experiences in delivering sensory training for product category of beer, spirit, soft drink, water, juices, dairy, hard seltzer, energy drink, vitamin drink, coffee, tea, and many more!
Chandrika G. R.
Global Sensory Manager
REGION: APACLANGUAGES: English, Hindi
For over 20 years I was an Analyst for United Spirits working in various areas from a Chemist to NPD and Sensory. I started working for FlavorActiV in 2018, taking on a different role of Global Sensory Manager. All my life I trained people on methods, validation and quality control but training for Sensory is totally different. I am very proud to be associated with FlavorActiV as it is so diverse and truly global! I am based in India and responsible for the South West Asian nations. I love travelling and am very lucky to be able to see different places and cultures. Whilst specialising in spirits sensory, I am involved in a wide spectrum of food and beverage sectors.
Leandro Fedele
Global Sensory Manager
REGION: AMERICASLANGUAGES: Portuguese, Spanish, English
I have worked as a Sensory Specialist for beverages and food since 2017, but I started with food a long time ago, in 2003. I'm studying coffee as my passion, doing SCA courses (next step will be Authorized SCA Trainer) and also doing a coffee plantation technlogist degree. I love travel (work and vacation) and meet different cultures, making friends and drink a good coffee or a good beer. I love work as a volunteer with homeless people since 2018 in São Paulo, Brazil. My favorite hobies are drink and prepare coffee from the entire world, cooking, craft beer, sports like surf and SUP, and love to play with my dogs.
Michael Conlin
Global Sensory Manager for North America
REGION: AMERICASLANGUAGES: English
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from DePaul University in 2016, I have enjoyed a rewarding career specializing in sensory solutions to enhance food and beverage quality and innovation. Working with cross-functional teams on a wide range of specialized and everyday products has broadened my perspectives as a consumer and professional. Joining the FlavorActiV team has elevated my ability to deliver the very best sensory solutions to quality brands. I am based in Chicago, Illinois where I enjoy golf, cycling, hockey, and skiing.
Juan Camilo Estrada G.
Global Sensory Manager for Americas
REGION: AMERICASLANGUAGES: English, Spanish
A trained Chemical Engineer, I was born in Colombia and now reside in Medellin - the City of Eternal Spring. Currently finishing my MBA studies, I have been a professor of Mathematics and Chemistry. I have worked in the polyurethane industry and in sectors such as personal care and biotech, where I was responsible for Colombia and the Caribbean islands. I love helping others and serving to build a better place to live, enjoying life with my friends, family, girlfriend and Apolo, my Golden Retriever.
Technical Team
Dale Smith
Technical Director
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
Originally from London but have lived and worked all over the UK and in Singapore, I trained as a Forensic Scientist with Degrees in Forensic Science and Psychology. Working at the UK’s Forensic Science Service for 7 years, specialising in the analysis of Drugs of Abuse, later in the location and recovery of latent fingermarks on evidence. My experience led to me moving into product development within the private sector – novel nanoparticle based fingerprint powders and suspensions that could be interrogated by MALDI-TOF analytical systems for contact residues containing drugs and explosive indicators. At FlavorActiV my role is Technical Director – overseeing product development such as our GMP Flavour Standards and TVS software, research, IT systems, product quality and our focus on human / machine. I’ve been with FlavorActiV for over 10 years where my past skills with analytical and product development have helped in supporting our team and customers.
Mangethe Zwane
Beer Freshness Manager
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
I have a BSc in Chemistry and Soil Science from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and a Postgraduate Diploma (Hons) in Business Administration from the Wits Business School, South Africa. I have over 12 years’ experience as an analytical chemist in the pharmaceutical industries, catalytic convertors industries, nanotoxicology health research, and brewing research. I have been previously employed by SABMiller improve flavour stability (Beer Freshness) measurement with Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) in the laboratory, within SABMiller I was a subject matter expert on ESR technology and the beer application. I have visited the CAESR lab in Oxford University to present advancements on the ESR measurement of beer flavour stability. Having joined FlavorActiV in 2017, I have been tasked with delivering the Beer freshness program and maintaining the technical support needed to deliver Beer freshness package effectively to customers globally. I have also been instrumental in the development of the new microESR automated system for measuring free radicals in collaboration with Bruker (leading global manufacture of ESR systems). I presented a poster at the EBC 2019 on the advancements of the new microESR system used to assess beer freshness. I have delivered sensory training and commissioned beer freshness systems across four continents and continues to be subject matter expert in the area of beer freshness globally.
Commercial Team
Tom Brown
Head of Global Marketing & Strategy
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
I joined the FlavorActiV team in 2019, initially starting as a Global Sensory Manager for EMEA. I spent a few years delivering sensory training across Europe and Africa whilst supporting our global customers across multiple food and beverage sectors. In 2022, I moved into my current role of Head of Global Marketing & Strategy. Being quite a diverse role, I now help to shape and steer our strategy across our different products and markets, whilst directing and overseeing our global marketing efforts.
Being from a craft beer background, I am the first to admit that I am a beer geek at heart, with a special weakness for fancy coffee. I love anything outdoors related, especially if it involves charging down a mountain on a snowboard! In the kitchen – the spicier the better (although I have drawn the line in putting chilli flakes on my morning porridge...for now).
Rachael Weait
People Performance Manager
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
I joined FlavorActiV in 2013 as a shipping administrator and from 2016 - 2022 managed the customer support team, learning a lot about our products, customers, and how to provide the best service. Getting to work so closely with multiple members of the team inspired me to complete a CIPD level 5 qualification in Human Resources Management so I could better support my wonderful colleagues. Now as the People Performance Manager I work closely with our team of sensory experts to ensure our shared knowledge base is unparalleled, and that our whole team have all the support they need to provide excellent service to our customers. I really enjoy working with a team that are so passionate about what they do – we can’t even go out for a pint without it descending into an impromptu profiling session! Outside of the office, I like to relax by baking cakes or by reading a book whilst holding a steaming mug of matcha tea
Peter Jackson
Global Supply & Proficiency Manager
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
I started at FlavorActiV in 2015, having come from a background in customer service and logistics. I started as the proficiency administrator before moving on to manage the department; I now run both the Proficiency and Business Support teams. When I’m not in the office, I can usually be found behind a guitar or drum kit, or trying my hardest (and failing) to stay away from the bakeries in my local area.
Sally Pullen
Business Support Officer
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
I have worked for FlavorActiV since 2011 in Customer Support part of Commercial Team and I am also a First Aider for the Sensory Centre. My previous roles have been in administration, and I have knowledge of import and export shipping. Outside of FlavorActiV, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking / baking, walking, reading, and exploring my family’s history within the brewing industry (beer is in my blood).
Dr Binod Maitin
Spirit Specialist
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English, Hindi
Binod has been with FlavorActiV for 7 years as Spirits Sensory specialist and currently supports the marketing team. Former SVP & Head of Technical Centre of United Spirits Limited, A Diageo Group Company, Binod is an accomplished scientific and technical expert with over four decades experience in sensory & analytical sciences & new product development (NPD) of spirits beverages. He has a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Queen’s University of Belfast. Has published and presented over 50 papers on various aspects of Analytical Chemistry and Beverages NPD & Quality. He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry and member of Institute of Brewing & Distilling and Sensometric Society. Besides FlavorActiV, Binod is also CTO of Trillium Beverage Company, a premium Cider Company in India. He is expert taster and member of judging panel in International Competitions namely, IWSC, London and ISW, Germany. He enjoys professional networking, travel, scientific reading & writing and invited presentation in conferences and always keen to disseminate knowledge for Quality,Tasting and Appreciation of Spirit Beverages.
Amanda Araujo
Credit Controller
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: Portuguese, Spanish & English
I joined the company in 2019 as a Credit Controller being responsible only for the Americas region and now I am responsible for the Americas and Africa regions. My degree in Business Administration helped me to build my background within the finance department working in one of the biggest TV holding companies in Brazil. For the past two years, I left the beach and surf in Rio de Janeiro for the snow and snowboard in Canada. In my free time, I like to explore the different provinces of Canada and enjoying the day at a ski resort with a nice beer or wine.
Sarah Jane Bhagat
Proficiency Admin
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
After many years in Hospitality, Sales, Admin and Customer Service I joined FlavorActiv in June 2021 as Proficiency Administrator. In this role I strive to support our Global Team and Customers.
Out of work I thoroughly enjoy cooking, travelling, rugby and golf as well as spending time with family and friends and I have been known to make the odd Pavlova!
Neelam Bhavsar
Business Support Assistant
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English, Gujarati, Hindi
I've recently joined the FlavorActiV team as a Business Support Assistant. I am so glad to be a part of commercial team at FlavorActiV which is so diverse and provides Globally Sensory Solutions. I graduated from the M.S.University of Baroda in Accounting & Financial management. In my out of office time, I like to spend quality time with my family, cooking and visiting different places.
Sue Waddington
Business Support Officer
REGION: GlobalLANGUAGES: English
With a Management Sciences degree from Manchester University (UMIST), I’ve worked in many sectors from start-ups to global organisations. I've covered a variety of roles many within marketing and sales functions. Before joining FlavorActiV in 2023, the closest I’d come to the brewing industry (other than working in bars!) was the Beerjolais Challenge. Hundreds of teams raced to take their barrel of beer from Manchester to a chateau in France to raise money for Scope. A good time was had by all, along with a large amount added to the charity's fundraising pot. Outside of work my passions include music, sports and playing bridge.
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