Yash Burgula, PhD

Director, R&D Technology

Seattle, WA

Message

Connect

Profile:

R&D Innovation leader, creative food scientist, successful people manager, and experienced technical brand manager.
Passionate about NPD, combining strong technical and analytic skills with business instincts.
Proven ability to drive bottom line performance via ingredient, formula, and process optimization with agility
Ability to leverage vendors, collaborate with cross functional partners & develop R&D teams.

2015 Apr - Present

Lead and Manage Ingredient Technology Program
- New Ingredient Qualification, Alternate and Supply Emergency mitigation;
- Vendor capabilities assessments, Ingredient's discovery, and assessment
Lead Open Innovation and Technology Platform
- Scouting, Assessment, and Evaluation; Support Long-term Strategic R&D Technology Projects for Growth and Cost-Reduction; Multiple patents filed: Egg Replacement Technologies, Ready to Bake Batters, and Snacks
Lead R&D Cost Optimization Program as Cross-functional lead
- Planning & facilitating cost optimization sessions; Developing cost opt. ideas and building cost optimization funnel; Working in partnership with Procurement, R&D, Operations, and Finance
Lead the Innovation Exploration Team for R&D
- Engage multiple cross-functional R&D and Marketing Business leaders on Retail, Food Service, and Club Channels to build Innovation Funnel with Technology Projects
Manage and Direct 5 on-site professionals: Principal Research Scientist, Food Scientists, and Technicians

2013 Jan - 2015 Mar

Lead and Manage NPD and R&D for Heinz Ketchup, Condiments, Sauces, and Heinz Portion Control
- For US/Canada - for Consumer Products (CPG) and Food Service (FS).
- Engaged with multiple Marketing, Consumer Insights, Sales, and Category Teams
- Developing Innovation funnel/roadmap with Consumer & Customer driven insights
- Completing Product Development, Market qualification, and Launch
- Managed and directed 11 on-site and remote professionals
- Provide daily guidance, career coaching, goal setting, coaching, and motivation
Global Technical Leader for Heinz Ketchup for North America
- Lead and supported Global NPD and R&D projects.Global Practice sharing in Ketchup product formulation and processing. Lead strategic long-term research activities on Tomato Products

2011 Jan - 2013 Jan

Lead and Manage NPD and R&D Projects for Heinz Global Emerging Markets
- Worked in Heinz China - Shanghai and Guangzhou as a short-term Global assignment
- Reported directly to Global SVP, R&D and Heinz China Business (MD and President, Heinz China)
- Created and administered R&D training programs for China R&D team
- Supported development and launch of new microwave traditional appetizer platform
Developed New Products for TGIF Meals and TGIF Snacks (NPD: $25 million NSV)
- Managed the core-development teams for TGIF Mega-brand Category Expansion
Supported NPD for Heinz New Emerging Channels - Dollar, Drug, and Growing Channel (Whole Foods)
- Heinz - Bagel Bites School-pack; Heinz Farmer's Harvest Soup
- Wyler's Brand Fortified Encapsulated Granules
Developed New Products for New Ventures/Explore - New Category Expansion Initiatives
- Developed 7 unique beverage formulations (fresh juice) initiatives
- Developed product/package concept for New Beverage and Identified Co-packers

2006 Jul - 2011 Jan

Developer for TGI Friday's, Smart-Ones, Bagel-Bites, and Delimex. Created, Designed, and Managed New Product Development Activities. Lead developer for TGI Friday's Meals/Snacks product development and R&D. Successfully commercialized several new snacks: TGIF Loaded Potation Skins, Sliders, Frozen Meals, Dips, Wings. Developed new products and line extensions for diverse product portfolio such as Whole-grain Bagels, Spinach and Artichoke dips, and Chicken Taquitos. Worked on major Cost-savings Initiatives for the TGIF snacks business. Delivered $3.5M savings across the frozen snacks business

2000 Jun - 2003 Jun

Supported Technologists within 'Strategic Process Technology' group using Twin Screw Extruders. Reformulation and scale up for Big G Cereals (Kix, Chex). Performed routine-maintenance of Pilot Plant Equipment. Twin screw extruders, Glatt sprayers, Enrobers, and Homogenizers. Analyzed dough samples for rheology, color, using RVA and Hunter Color Scan

2003 - 2006

2005 - 2005

2000 - 2002

1994 - 1998