On-Purpose

Stephen Catling

Stephen Catling has been in the food industry for nearly 30 years, and a CEO for the last 15 years with a strong international and commercial background, leading big and small businesses in mostly Business-2-Business and some Business-2-Consumer food, agricultural & industrial ingredients, speciality pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. He has wide experience in leading customer-intimate, value added, and innovation-led businesses with considerable international expansion and growth strategies. Stephen has significant Mergers & Acquistions and European Board experience. Stephen began his career as a food scientist for Kraft in Munich in 1987, moving to the international food ingredients giant, Danisco (now DuPont) in 1991 where his career climb led him to his first Managing Director role in his early 30s, then onto Divisional President in 1999. In 2003, Stephen moved to Associated British Foods to lead the Ingredients group of companies for the next 11 years. In September 2014, Stephen stepped out of corporate life, and has set up his own business providing consulting, advisory and non exec support to the food industry. Stephen is passionate about people development and has spent many years managing and mentoring young people in their roles to develop their potential and to realize their goals.