Ralph Ahrbeck

Experience

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  Kraft Foods Group

  Jan 1986 - Jan 1991

  European Financial Director

  Improved regional profitability by leveraging a unique manufacturing profit center concept across Europe through creative IT, manufacturing and logistics cost reduction projects. Worked in 15 worldwide Kraft affiliates on a variety of projects cultivating a flexible management style while developing cultural diversity and sensitivity.

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  Kraft Foods International

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1998

  Area Director Japan

  In a 13 year tenure with Kraft, repeatedly selected for assignments critical to Kraft International’s growth, expansion and cultural sensitivity blending western management style with regional cultures. Appointed as co-CEO of a 50/50 joint venture with Japan’s 2nd largest coffee company ($800m, 1,000 employees) reversing losses in the JV by gaining Japanese stakeholders’ consensus and trust to discontinue non-core business, reduce the complex product portfolio and divest a redundant manufacturing facility - a departure from traditional Japanese corporate culture. Show less

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  Roche

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2004

  Head of Europe - Consumer Health

  Recruited to build a highly focused Pan-European consumer health team with a €500M P&L accountability, oversight of 700 employees across 12 EU countries. Redesigned the business model, galvanized the team for top performance and implemented a differentiated strategy to drive competitive advantage. Established the #3 consumer health with profitability at one of industry's highest positioning it for an attractive acquisition by Bayer.

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  Alliance Boots

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2005

  International Business Development Director

  Brought in to Europe's largest Pharma wholesaler / retailer (30,000 employees) to establish an international business strategy necessary to reposition the company from a “box-mover” to one that provided value-add services for key clients - Pharma manufacturers. Designed a unique set of industry-first services and strategic blueprint that laid foundation for growth.

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  Novus Lifescience

  Jan 2005 - Sept 2014

  Founder / CEO

  With a diverse FMCG / Lifescience career, built a successful global Strategy and Marketing Consulting organization that challenged current business practices with “out-of-the-box” strategies to help businesses transform themselves for sustainable competitive advantage. Focused clients on their most important growth and profit driver - consumers and customers. Brought extensive FMCG, Consumer Health, Pharma, Supply Chain, etc industry expertise with companies ranging from Fortune 100 to entrepreneurial start-ups. Solved a complexity of issues in a variety of engagements (organizational, brand building, M&A, global expansion, strategic company positioning, etc). Show less

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  Shiseido Co. Ltd

  Jun 2014 - Jan 2016

  Corporate Executive Officer, CSO

  Appointed Chief Strategy Officer (and Corporate Executive Officer) for Shiseido Co. Ltd spearheading the company's overall global strategy and reforms to re-engineer Shiseido into a global marketing powerhouse. As CSO was instrumental in crafting the newly defined "VISION 2020" as the road-map for rejuvenating Shiseido. This involved executing a strategy to shift a very traditional Japanese organization with Global aspirations to build a Global organization with Japanese heritage. This required instilling a new corporate mindset putting the consumer at the center of all decisions, crafting new global strategies for growth, new organizational structures with Regional Headquarters including new leadership, instilling centers of excellence and creating the Marketing Academy to add much needed marketing competencies to bring in a true consumer focused mindset. In 2015 additionally assumed the post of Regional Head for China. Show less

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  Arqus Advisory Ltd

  Jan 2016 - now

  Founder | CEO

  Arqus – Latin for “arch” – symbolizes collaboration and the all-important connections between companies, brands and their consumers. Guided by these philosophies, we create meaningful strategies for success in the global marketplace, and help you to deliver on them. We bring a wealth of hands-on experience that bridges cultures across North America, Europe and in particular Asia (Japan and China) and have worked together with Fortune 100 companies and startups alike. Arqus’ philosophy puts your consumer front and center. We build a unique team of expert collaborators necessary to define and achieve your competitive strategy. Show less