Our professions

"I started my career in Lactalis Russia in October 2006 as Purchasing Director responsible for setting up and managing the purchasing organization in CIS countries (Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan). Two years later, I took the responsibility for managing the Milk Collection department in the 4 countries of this region. Thanks to this experience, I got the possibility to strongly develop my organizational and management skills. I knew that working in a developing market/country could give me another impulse for professional growth. After having raised my vision and my ambitions with my managers during the annual appraisal, the HR Department contacted me to offer me a new opportunity: a position as Purchasing Director of Lactalis Iberia, our subsidiary in Spain. The main mission was about establishing a central purchasing organization in Madrid in order to provide professional service to 5 divisions and 8 production plants.
Any mobility inside your own country or outside represents a lot of challenges. In view of my own experience, I think that this is important to discuss with one’s management which of your strengths could contribute to improvement and success of the business as well as to indicate precisely what experience you are looking for. Indeed, a new position in a different environment (city / country) could perfectly fit to your profile! If you start working in a new country, it is essential to put all your efforts in learning (language, culture, traditions…) and take a proactive position. It is also important not to be afraid to ask for help when you need it."

"Although I joined the Group in 2004, I have been working in the dairy sector since 1984. Joining the Group was a turning point in my life - I now work in a lively and dynamic environment. Before we used to collect about 100,000 litres of milk per year; now, we collect more than 1 million litres of milk from 3,000 Spanish producers.
In the past 10 years, we have recruited employees from different companies and countries. They arrive with a wealth of experience gained from previous jobs. As such, what we learn from new employees is proportionate to what they learn from us.

We are all part of a large Group and we are all clearly committed to the dairy sector. Of course, business issues are key for the company but so is each person’s individual development as well.

I was asked to provide a few tips that would help someone thrive within the Group. It’s simple: keep our Group values in mind: Ambition, Engagement with Simplicity. It is as simple as that! But I would also add passion."

"I started my career at Dukat Croatia in March 1999 after graduating from the University of Zagreb with a Master’s degree in Psychology. My professional ambitions at the time were focused on organisational psychology. With this background, to begin my career as an intern in the HR department of a flourishing company was an opportunity I had to grab!

During the ensuing five and a half years, I worked in all key HR fields and participated in a number of cross-department projects, which made me work with other departments, such as, marketing, sales, supply chain, finance or even administration.

My desire to work in another department plus the resources gained from in-house training enabled me to apply for a marketing job at Dukat. I went on to become brand manager of Ultra Fresh Dukat. Assuming this new position was very stimulating. I recommend it to everyone, and especially young professionals, to try and go beyond their field of speciality at some point in their careers. These experiences can really challenge the limits we subconsciously set for ourselves, and enhance personal and professional growth.

The Lactalis Group later acquired the company in 2007, and by then I had become Senior Brand Manager. I have been offered the Country Manager position in Slovenia, where I am in charge of Dukat’s sales activities on the Slovenian market for the next three years. In my current position, I am in charge of exports and related projects.

The main goal behind working on inter-departmental projects is to encourage the sharing of ideas and concepts regarding the Group’s flagship products, with the aim of building on our strengths in our markets."

"I was recruited by the Group in Ukraine in connection with the work-study master program at the Higher School of Agriculture of Angers, France. I became familiar with the corporate environment of the company and made a career plan with the assistance of the Group. After studying dairy science and technology at Agrocampus Ouest, Lactalis offered me the position of industrial management controller at Walhorn SA (Belgium), where I was tasked to establish finance controlling tools and supervise two factories. At the end of the mission, and given my professional and personal wishes, I was transferred to a production site in France, in Petit Fayt. My task was to oversee long term finance controlling at the site, whilst furthering my professional skills in a position that is part of an industrial function.

The profession of industrial finance controller establishes a link between industrial and financial performance. Acquiring technical and technological skills provides a basis for better analysis of industrial performance. In addition to appropriate training and education, working in the field is excellent for sharpening one’s knowledge base.
The fact that I have worked in 4 of the Group’s factories in 2 countries in 8 years has helped me acquire the capacity to adapt quickly. This is true not only from a professional perspective (varied manufacturing activities and organisational structures), but also from a personal perspective (as company culture is based on factory history and staff mentality and differs from one country to another, even from one region in France to another). "

"My career at Lactalis began in 2008, at the Pavlograd factory in Ukraine as Automation Engineer. When I arrived the factory was being modernised, so I participated in the launch of new processes and new processing lines. It is during this process that I familiarised myself with the technology used to manufacture ultra-fresh products as well as with the management methods of the Group.
In 2010 I became Project Manager. One of my biggest projects was the launch of the extrusion line of HDPE bottles. In 2013, I wanted to progress so I accepted the position of Packaging manager. This was quite a new experience for me, as it was more concerned with staff management.
After 5 years in Pavlograd, the Group offered me the position of Production Manager at the factory in Issyk, Kazakhstan; an offer I immediately accepted. It is a very rewarding experience in terms of my professional growth. After working at a yoghurt factory, I'm now getting acquainted with fresh cheese and dessert production. "

"I have been working for the Group for 9 years. I started in 2006 as IT Manager for Lactalis McLelland, in Glasgow. For 7 years, I was in charge of a team of 5 people with whom we developed, among others, the IT environments of the fresh products division (yoghurts and milk desserts) for the Lubborn Creamery in Somerset, UK, and Rachel’s Dairy in Aberystwyth, UK.
In 2013, I was offered the position of Group International Coordinator, which I accepted. I have now been working at the head office located in Laval, France for two years. I am often going on business trips to diverse countries in order to help them with the management of IT systems, their integration and optimisation. To solve each case as effectively as possible, my team and I establish task forces to analyse the situations, issues and potential solutions, before implementing an action plan.
I find the international scope of my mission very rewarding. I get to work around the world quite regularly, and with countries whose cultural backgrounds are different from European culture such as India, the UAE or Singapore.
When I arrived in France with my family, we had a rough time with the language barrier since we didn’t speak French very well. Aware of that, the HR department of the Group helped me to find an accommodation and assisted us with the initial administrative procedures."

"As an Intellectual Property Manager attached to the legal department of Parmalat, I have always participated in international projects, which has introduced me to a variety of issues that I had never encountered before. That is why I eagerly and naturally welcomed the opportunity, however short, to move to the USA from October 2013 to March 2014. This was the occasion to be part of Lactalis America in Buffalo, where I was warmly welcomed and well taken care of.
During this period, I was in charge of ensuring compliance of the Group’s contracts. Thanks to this opportunity, in my free time I was also able to appreciate the country’s natural attractions, such as the Niagara Falls."

"After graduating in electro-technical and sales in 1988, I joined Lactalis Group as a Factory employee in 1993. Soon enough, I talked about my professional aspirations with my supervisors and the Group supported me by establishing training programmes to allow me to occupy a management position. I soon became Warehouse Team Manager following the building of the Lactalis Health & Nutrition warehouse in Torcé, France. I have been serving as Unit Manager since 2013, and I supervise 2 team managers and a team of 50 people.
I can say that the Lactalis Group and the various people I have worked with – and still work with – have provided me with this opportunity to be promoted in my duties. This is the fuel behind my motivation to carry out my missions. Lactalis is a family-owned business and you sense that daily when interacting with the staff members, regardless of their hierarchy within the company."

"I started my marketing career in Mexico then I moved to Canada 7 years ago. I joined the Parmalat Group in 2011 as Brand Manager Assistant. After four years in the company, I now work with a large team made up of colleagues who are always keen on helping each other.

As I went about my professional development while working in the marketing department, I noticed the significant contribution of the Lactalis Group towards training and staff development, which in turn ensures continuous progress of each employee working with me. The Group has had a very positive impact on my personal development, which has helped me to progress to my current position as Brand Manager.

This has been a positive experience and I am happy to continue pursuing this adventure."

"During my education in agro-engineering, I soon became attracted to international experiences, which led to internships in Russia, Poland, Finland and India.
I joined Lactalis Group in 2003 at the factory in Istra, Russia, which was in the final construction phase at the time. I joined this processed cheese factory as Quality Manager. The launch of a new production site is one of the most remarkable experiences I have ever had, owing to the professional insights I gained as well as the unique richness of human interactions inherent to new sites.

In 2007, I was promoted to the position of Quality Director in charge of CIS, a region including Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan. This introduced me to a wide range of dairy products and technologies. It also provided me with a great opportunity to acquire the relevant management skills required to manage operations in a region including several countries and production factories.

In 2011, I joined Lactalis International as Exports Quality Director. This position based in France focuses on new regions: Africa, Asia, the Middle East and French overseas territories. With a strong emphasis on market and customer quality management, this position serves as the interface for quality standards and technical aspects between the Group’s exporting companies and major exports markets. In other words, my position serves as the interface between the production, sales, marketing and logistics teams.
Advice I’d like to share? Always remember that the best way to build substantial experience is to draw on field experience and interactions with other professionals."

"In 2012, I joined Parmalat South Africa through its Graduate Development Program. After a year of training at the R&D department, I was selected for the management trainee programme, allowing me to spend some time in France. When I arrived at a French production site, I still couldn't speak French very well. Sometimes it was hard for me to understand the processes and operations. But thanks to the programme, I benefited from a very good training and got exposed to the cutting edge technology available at Lactalis.
I have since returned to South Africa, and was appointed R&D Technician specialising in cheese processing innovations, including related renovations and improvements. In 2014, for instance, I launched Galbani Fresh Mozzarella at the Stellenbosh factory, and I’m now working on even more projects.

I’ve made progress thanks to the insights and experience I’ve acquired, and I’m even more passionate about what I do and I am fully committed to achieving my goals."

I spent my first years working at different production sites at a time when the HR department was growing fast in the Group.

I have learnt a lot thanks to the guidance I received from my managers and the training I underwent to develop my skills. These allowed me to effectively implement the various projects the Group has entrusted me with. The wealth of this experience allowed me to increase my responsibilities by working on new perimeters at regional, national and European levels.

The growth of the Group, which depends on the staff’s development, enables us to realise our professional projects.