Dole has appointed Dr Lara Ramdin, as Chief Innovation Officer, further strengthening the company’s innovation capabilities in support of The Dole Promise which seeks to increase access to nutritious food across the world.
Dr Ramdin, who will be based at Dole’s Westlake Village campus, California, US, has an extensive global track record in R&D, product development and innovation within leading organizations including Unilever, Estee Lauder and Molson Coors Beverages Company. Having studied Applied Biology at the University of Cardiff, she went on to gain a doctorate in immunology at the University of Southampton before moving into corporate R&D/innovation leadership roles and latterly as a consultant to small businesses and start-ups. Dr Ramdin is a passionate innovator, a design thinking practitioner and trainer, and believes in using empathy to unlock unique solutions. She is a fierce advocate for young women in STEM which she exercises through her mentor roles in both The Girls’ Network and 1MMentors organizations and as Sponsorship Director and board member for the not-for-profit organization Irish Film London.