Robert Marnell

Strategic business leader and board-level executive with more than 35 years of experience delivering growth, transformation and operational excellence across complex FMCG, food manufacturing and engineering environments. Recognised for combining commercial acumen with deep operational expertise to drive sustainable business performance, strengthen governance, and create long-term stakeholder value.

Former Operations

Director at Stateside Foods, where leadership contributed to the growth of the business from approximately £35 million to more than £240 million turnover, alongside the successful delivery of over £220 million of capital investment programmes, including the design, construction and commissioning of multiple manufacturing facilities. Experienced in overseeing large-scale operations, managing substantial budgets, leading organisational transformation, and developing high-performing leadership teams capable of sustaining growth and cultural change. Brings significant board exposure through appointment to the Board of Richlieu Foods USA, providing strategic oversight, investment governance and business improvement leadership across international operations.

Known for building strong leadership cultures, developing future talent pipelines, and aligning people, process and commercial strategy to achieve measurable business outcomes.

Consultant & Director - AMT Project Management

(2025-01)

Providing strategic operational and transformation consultancy to manufacturing organisations, advising executive leadership teams on operational performance, organisational effectiveness and long-term business improvement.

• Advising a £200M food manufacturing business on operational strategy, organisational restructuring and commercial performance improvement.
• Supporting executive teams with strategic decision-making relating to productivity, operational resilience and business transformation.
• Providing independent challenge and guidance across organisational design, leadership capability and operational governance.
• Aligning commercial and operational functions to improve profitability, decision-making and sustainable business performance.

Operations Director - Stateside Foods

(2009-01 - 2025-01)

Board member of one of the UK's largest chilled and frozen pizza manufacturers, responsible for enterprise-wide operations, manufacturing strategy, capital investment, engineering, supply chain, procurement, sustainability and organisational performance across large-scale manufacturing facilities.

• Contributed to executive and board-level strategic planning that supported business growth from approximately £35M to more than £240M turnover, while increasing manufacturing volumes from 30 million to over 230 million pizzas annually.
• Led governance and oversight of more than £220M of capital investment, including the design, construction and commissioning of three major manufacturing facilities and extensive automation programmes.
• Directed organisation-wide operational resilience during the loss of a production facility following a major fire, ensuring business continuity and recovery while maintaining customer confidence.
• Developed long-term operational strategy, KPI frameworks and investment priorities to improve productivity, capacity, quality and financial performance.
• Oversaw annual operational budgets exceeding £210M across engineering, manufacturing, logistics, procurement, planning and facilities management.
• Appointed to the Board of Richlieu USA (2019–2023), providing strategic oversight on manufacturing performance, investment planning and operational improvement programmes supporting Freiberger's North American operations.
• Led the strategic design and delivery of a new greenfield manufacturing facility in 2024, achieving BRC A accreditation at first audit and establishing industry-leading standards for operational risk management and food safety.
• Championed organisational culture transformation through leadership development, apprenticeship programmes, Investors in People Gold accreditation and succession planning, including successfully developing and mentoring a successor into the Operations Director role.

Chief Engineer, General Manager, Operations Manager - Stateside Foods

(2004-01 - 2009-01)

Progressed rapidly through senior leadership appointments, broadening accountability across manufacturing operations before appointment as Operations Director.

• Successfully transitioned from technical leadership into full site leadership, overseeing manufacturing, engineering, quality, HR, planning, procurement and financial performance.
• Established strong cross-functional governance across operational, commercial and engineering functions to improve business performance.
• Led operational improvement initiatives that enhanced manufacturing efficiency, workforce capability and production reliability.
• Developed leadership capability across management teams while strengthening operational controls and business processes to support continued expansion.

BEng (Hons) - Mechanical Manufacturing Systems Engineering - Liverpool John Moores University

Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) - Mechanical Engineering - Kirkby Technical College

Electronic ONC (Final Year Studies) - Old Swan Technical College