Professional Resume - Ian Knight

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Executive Profile

Strategic, innovative and results-oriented executive having a wealth of experience in the food and ingredient industries of three countries on two continents. Particular emphasis on international scientific and regulatory affairs, public affairs, and scientific communications for the food and beverage industries. Three-year overseas posting in Europe, and prior experience in the UK and Canada provide a unique international expertise combined with 8 years as Principal of a U.S. consulting company. Solid scientific background, strong interpersonal skills with ability to interpret and communicate scientific information, both written and verbal, and experienced in media interviewing techniques. Able to develop and execute sound scientific, regulatory and technical strategies in the fields of functional ingredients. Highly computer literate, experienced in all basic Office tools, database construction and programming as well as web-design and programming.

Professional Experience, Work History and Major Achievements

Knight International has had the following companies and organizations as clients: -

American Cocoa Research Institute (ACRI) in Vienna, Virginia
Canadian Soft Drink Association in Toronto, Canada
Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in London, UK
Holland Sweetener Company in Maastricht, Netherlands
International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in London, UK
International Food Information Council (IFIC) in Washington, DC
International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) in Washington DC
International Science and Technology Institute (ISTI) in Rosslyn, Virginia
MD Foods Ingredients in Skanderborgvej, Denmark
National Confectioners' Association (NCA)/Chocolate Manufacturers' Association (CMA) in Vienna, Virginia
Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties and Food Ingredients, a member of the Hoechst Group in Frankfurt, Germany
Pepsi-Cola Company in Purchase, New York
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington DC
Virgin Cola Company in Los Angeles, California, now in Connecticut
William Wrigley Jr. Company in Chicago, Illinois
World Cocoa Foundation in Vienna, Virginia

Achievements:

Edited a 360 page, 23 chapter reference textbook 'Chocolate & Cocoa: Health and Nutrition' (ISBN 0 632 05415 8), which included managing scientific experts who wrote most of the chapters.
Served as OMNI Research food fortification QA study reviewer.
Wrote and presented dossier to permit new use of ingredient in Canada.
Produced dossiers for submission to EU and India to permit the new use of ingredients.
Produced dossier for submission to the EU permitting the use of a new sweetener in animal feeds.
Formulated and presented client positions to European and UK government regulators on novel sweetener.
Advised on and approved labeling for two major new beverages launched in the US.
Represented the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Uganda, Africa as part of a nutrition assessment team in support of vitamin A fortification of foods.
Consolidated complex European regulatory information on biotechnology issues into a simple flowchart for communication purposes.
Re-created ACRI's web-site (www.acri-cocoa.org) using Macromedia Cold Fusion, into a database-driven site.
Designed, Cold Fusion coded, installed and continue to update Knight International web site.
Created Oracle database application for retail business.

Tate & Lyle SSD(UK) - Manager, Regulatory Affairs (1994-1996)

Prepared submissions for France, Germany, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland, India, Pakistan and Sweden. Obtained temporary marketing authorization in China prior to full approval and initial gazeting in South Africa.

Redpath Sugars, Toronto & Montreal, Canada - Director, External Affairs (1989-1994)

Gained regulatory approval for sucralose (a new high-intensity sweetener) in Canada, which was the first approval anywhere in the world and was the most significant approval, upon which all other approvals were based for seven years, until US approval in April 1998.
Acted as primary scientific and technical spokesperson for the company to all audiences and in dialogue with customers.
Managed public discussion on the new high intensity sweetener sucralose in Canada to ensure no public affairs issues.
Successfully interviewed several times on television, radio and in print.
Compiled a comprehensive Crisis Communications Plan for the company.
Conceived and published a quarterly newsletter on sweeteners and related nutrition topics called 'Sweetsense'.
Through effective lobbying, removed 12.5% tariff from sucralose imported from the USA manufacturing plant resulting in savings of approximately $150,000 per year.

Manager, External Affairs (1985-1989)

Developed a range of consumer product prototypes to effectively demonstrate the benefits of sucralose to customers.
Developed and implemented a successful case-for-need program involving key customers in order to provide an effective foundation for regulatory discussion.

Systems Manager, Manufacturing (1981-1985)

Effected a conversion of process control (approx. 1/2 of a sugar refinery) from an old, outdated computer to a new (at the time), modern minicomputer (which involved developing the systems design and writing the programs in FORTRAN 77). This was accomplished ahead of schedule.
Devised the first product cost system for all sugar-based products, allowing sales-people to price products according to cost for the first time ever.
Contributed to significant reduction of product loss caused by basic inefficiencies and inability to properly account for them, as the systems expert on an international interdisciplinary task force.

Education

B.Sc.(Hons IIi)Chemistry, University of Salford, UK - 1971

Publications

As Editor:
Chocolate & Cocoa: Health and Nutrition, Ed. I. Knight; 1999, Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.

As Author:
Knight, C.A., Knight, I., Mitchell, D.C. Beverage Caffeine Intakes in Young Children in Canada and the US, Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research - Vol 67 No 2, Summer 2006.

Knight, C.A., Knight, I., Mitchell, D.C., Zepp, J.E. Caffeinated Beverage Consumption in the United States, Food Chemical Toxicology 42 (2004) 1923-1930.

Chapter 10 – Minerals; Chapter 18 – Chocolate and Acne; Chapter 19 – Liver & Kidney Disease, GI Effects of Chocolate Consumption, all in Chocolate & Cocoa: Health and Nutrition, Ed. I. Knight; Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.

Knight, I. 1996. Chapter 16 - Sucralose, in Sweeteners – Ingredients Handbook. Leatherhead Food RA. UK

Knight, I. 1996. Chapter 19 – Thaumatin, in Sweeteners – Ingredients Handbook, Leatherhead Food RA. UK

Knight, I. 1994. The development and applications of sucralose, a new high intensity sweetener. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 72: 435 - 439.

Languages

English (mother tongue)
French (basic knowledge)
German (basic knowledge)

Citizenship

U.S.A.	Citizen, Passport Holder
Canada	Citizen, Passport Holder
E.U. (UK)	Citizen, Passport Holder

Professional Affiliations:

Institute of Food Technologists (USA)	Professional member	1986 - present
Food Additives & Ingredients Association London, UK	Communications Committee	1994 - present
Canadian Sugar Institute Toronto, Canada	Technical Committee	1987 - 1994
Grocery Products Manufacturers of Canada Toronto, Canada	Technical Council	1983 - 1988 1993 - 1994
International Life Sciences Institute Washington DC	Macronutrient Substitution Sub-Committee	1992 - 1994
University of Toronto Program in Food Safety	Technical Advisory Committee	1991 - 1994
Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology	Director	1974 - 1994
International Sweeteners Association Brussels, Belgium	Scientific & Regulatory Committee Central & Eastern Europe Working Group Table-Top Sweetener Working Group Labeling Task Force	1994 - 1996
Food and Drink Federation London, UK	General Additives Working Group	1994 - 1996
International Life Sciences Institute - Europe Brussels, Belgium	Light Products Task Force	1994 - 1995

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