Yogendra Goundar
Auckland,AUK
Summary
Highly motivated and qualified FMCG Production/Operations Leader recognized for clarity and fairness in decision making and delivering results under challenging environments. Possesses more than 17 years of experience driving a culture of operational excellence through subject matter expertise, capability-building in Technical, Health, Safety, and Environmental sustainability aspects, and people and thought leadership in national and international manufacturing management.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Engineer
The Westin Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
2024.04 - 2025.06
- Company Overview: The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa is part of the 9000 hotels within the Marriott International Group.
- Active involvement in the Westin Pre-opening (People, Product, Process)
- Leading and managing a team of approx. 60 associates including Managers, Assistant Managers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Painters, HVAC technicians, Electricians, Gas technicians and Landscape Guest Service Agents
- Assessing and evaluating Front of House and Back of House operations and implement continuous improvement and sustainable strategies
- Ensure compliance to Fire life Safety standards and policies
- Manage Department P&L to ensure costs are tracked properly and expenses are within budget. Carry out P&L critique and contribute to owners report
- Ensure Guest Voice, Room Preventive Maintenance and Transcendent goals achieved
- Responsible for driving and delivering P&L projects
- Managing external vendors and contractors
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Responsible for raising Purchase orders and following through on Open PO reports
- The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa is part of the 9000 hotels within the Marriott International Group.
Factory Manager
Viti Foods Pte Limited
2023.03 - 2023.11
- Company Overview: A subsidiary of CJ Patel Group, Viti Foods Limited manufactures canned fish for local and export markets.
- Reporting to the General Manager, lead a team of approx. 110 direct and indirect reports.
- Meet production targets, Safety, Quality standards and manufacturing costs.
- Guide and build Capabilities of team to continuously improve the standard of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment on Site
- Ensure Factory is operationally compliant to local and international standards including but not limited to; pressure Vessel and lifting Equipment certifications, wastewater management and Good Manufacturing practices.
- Contribute and participate in retaining External Food Safety Certifications for the Site
- A subsidiary of CJ Patel Group, Viti Foods Limited manufactures canned fish for local and export markets.
Sustainability (EHS) & QA Manager - South Pacific
British American Tobacco
2021.01 - 2022.10
- Company Overview: An international company leading multi-category consumer goods within the FMCG market sectors.
- Set up best practices and lead a team of 12 direct and indirect reports across multiple sites and shifts to ensure the smooth operation of the Sustainability and QA functions in the South Pacific end markets (Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Island, Papua New Guinea)
- Manage team including performance KPIs, conflict resolution, and professional growth and development including Health, Safety, and Environment (ESG) capability-building trainings.
- Drive and deliver projects with proper quality control plans and zero workplace accidents.
- Lead quality and EHS pillar for IWS to drive the zero-loss mindset and 100% ownership.
- Lead sustainability & ESG agenda action plans for Fiji and drive ESG across the SP end markets.
- Review business continuity and crisis management plans and execute as required with assistance from crisis management team.
- Product Improvement Manager/Quality Improvement Manager for Fiji & Samoa. Carry out product specification maintenance to ensure correct BOM is maintained in the system for material planning (approx. 60 SKUs)
- Lead Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Certification for Fiji Operations
- An international company leading multi-category consumer goods within the FMCG market sectors.
- Zero LTI since in the role
- Led the business to achieve its very first Quality Excellence Awards in 2021
- Delivered 100% Quality Bonus target for 2021.
- Roll-out of digital EHS reporting platform SAFEX.
- Roll-out and setup of drumbeat for field force safety and security toolkit to address vehicle related issues such as speeding, reporting errors, unsafe behaviours.
- Zero delays to NPI processes due to system setup (SAP)
Production Manager
British American Tobacco
2019.09 - 2020.12
- Led Fiji Production (team of approx. 40 staff) to deliver key metrics and business initiatives and improve operational efficiency, quality, and manufacturing cost.
- Promoted and led 'Go Beyond' behaviours focusing on Ownership, Delivery, and Passion
- Led Autonomous Maintenance (AM) pillar of IWS.
- Drove conformance to schedule to meet demand forecast.
- Drove business results through Lean Manufacturing
- Roll-out of tobacco waste stream mapping
- Roll-out AM pillar Run to Target
Manager Audit & Compliance | Acting Operations Manager (Samoa)
Samoa Breweries Limited
2018.10 - 2019.08
- Company Overview: Paradise Beverages is one of the largest alcoholic manufacturers in the Pacific having plants in Fiji and Samoa (operations now ceased).
- Managed and was accountable for site operations (including both Alcoholic and Carbonated soft drink), focusing on meeting ISO certifications and ensuring compliance to the local and international standards for food safety, EHS, and waste management.
- Successfully led site wastewater discharge project
- Paradise Beverages is one of the largest alcoholic manufacturers in the Pacific having plants in Fiji and Samoa (operations now ceased).
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
- ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety Management System
- ISO 14001:2015 Environment Management System
- FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System
- AS/NZ 4801:2001 OH&S
- McDonalds SQMS Audit
- Treated wastewater discharge project.
Acting Production & Site Manager
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2017.01 - 2018.08
- Managed production operations (packaging, brewing, quality, EHS, CI & systems)
- Oversaw production planning (> 25 SKUs), process optimizations, budgeting (direct and indirect production expenses), supplier/contractor relationship, issue resolution, and team development.
- Achieved financial KPIs.
- Worked together with different area managers to improve volume, efficiencies, safety, quality, and compliance as well as the Marketing team on NPDs.
- Managed capital expenditure projects and assisted with site redevelopment projects.
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
- New Machinery installations with minimum to no production impact
Continuous Improvement & Food Safety Team Leader
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Ltd - South Pacific Distilleries (Lautoka)
2015.03 - 2016.04
- Drove continuous improvement opportunities in areas such as health safety, food safety, equipment reliability, quality, downtime, efficient use of resources, change management across all functions of work.
- Led the Food Safety Team to ISO 22000:2005 certification and maintained compliance to ISO 9001:2008
- Actively engaged in capital projects. Identified and implemented required CER
- New Product Development
Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Systems Team Leader
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2013.06 - 2015.03
- Supervised, identified trends, planned audits, and initiated corrective actions/troubleshooting for the laboratory team in providing QA technical support across Brewing and Packaging Operations functions.
- Also assisted in budgeting including ensuring lab expenses and CERs were within budget, as well as manpower planning, recruitment, and training
- Implemented HSE standards and Continuous Improvement initiatives in QA processes.
- Drove the development, implementation, and compliance of internal and external food safety and quality standards and systems including ISO 9001, FSMS 22000/HACCP, Paradise Beverages Good Laboratory Practice
- Ensured a safe and hazard-free environment by developing and implementing environmental initiatives and identifying risks or threats to future product or process compliance.
- Handled customer complaints.
Brewing Supervisor
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2008.06 - 2013.06
- Team supervision including task delegation, productivity monitoring including attendance, and employee training including SOPs and compliance requirements.
- Planned, monitored, and coordinated with other departments to deliver daily processes including stock movements, brewing schedules and processes, quality, GMPs, etc. in a safe and cost-effective way.
Graduate Trainee
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2007.10 - 2008.05
Mechanical Engineer Plant Maintenance
Dominion Wire & Cables
2007.07 - 2007.09
- Attended to machine breakdowns and assisted the Plant Engineer in laying out new machinery.
Education
Master of Business Administration -
University of the South Pacific
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering & Physics
University of the South Pacific
Skills
- Operations Management
- Health & Safety
- Food Safety & Quality
- ISO Management Systems
- Environment Sustainability & Governance
- Business Continuity Plan
- New Product Introduction
- Change Management
- Crisis Management
- Team Management
- Leadership
- Performance Management
- Training
- Microsoft Operating Systems
- SAP
- ISO Management Systems
- Integrated Working System (IWS)
- Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)
- Brewing & Packaging
- Beverage Sensory Evaluation
- Environment, Social & Governance
- Project Management
- Budget & CAPEX
Certification
- NEBOSH International General Certificate in OHS, 2022
- Leadership Fiji Program, 2017
- Principal Investigator - Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM)
- Lead Quality Management Systems Auditor
- Quality Management System - Internal Audit
- General Certificate in Brewing, 2012
- General Certificate in Packaging, 2011
References
Available upon request
License
Valid New Zealand Driving License, Class 1, F Endorsement (Awaiting updated card)
Timeline
Chief Engineer
The Westin Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
2024.04 - 2025.06
Factory Manager
Viti Foods Pte Limited
2023.03 - 2023.11
Sustainability (EHS) & QA Manager - South Pacific
British American Tobacco
2021.01 - 2022.10
Production Manager
British American Tobacco
2019.09 - 2020.12
Manager Audit & Compliance | Acting Operations Manager (Samoa)
Samoa Breweries Limited
2018.10 - 2019.08
Acting Production & Site Manager
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2017.01 - 2018.08
Continuous Improvement & Food Safety Team Leader
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Ltd - South Pacific Distilleries (Lautoka)
2015.03 - 2016.04
Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Systems Team Leader
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2013.06 - 2015.03
Brewing Supervisor
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2008.06 - 2013.06
Graduate Trainee
Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited
2007.10 - 2008.05
Mechanical Engineer Plant Maintenance
Dominion Wire & Cables
2007.07 - 2007.09
Master of Business Administration -
University of the South Pacific
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering & Physics
University of the South Pacific