Board members

Sebastian Munden

Chair

Seb has extensive experience across leadership roles including Non-Executive Director and Chair. He spent his 30+ year executive career with Unilever. Prior to his chief executive role at Unilever UK and Ireland, Seb held senior global roles in the company and worked across Europe and North America. Seb is Chair of the environmental NGO WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme), which partners businesses and governments globally, promoting the circular economy and tackling the causes of climate change, waste and pollution in the way food, fashion and consumer products are made, used and disposed of. He is also the Chair of Ad Net Zero, the advertising industry’s climate emergency global action programme. He has served on steering groups for industry associations, The Food and Drink Federation, The Institute of Grocery Distribution, The Inclusive Economy Partnership run by the Cabinet Office and for Movement to Work. He has substantial experience in creating strong competitive brands and commercial success, whilst actively applying the principles of business as a force for good for all stakeholders. He champions the innovation opportunities of the circular economy, more sustainable business strategies and working with companies from different sectors on customer and citizen behaviour change strategies.

Pete Headridge

Executive Director
Chief Executive Officer

Peter has worked in the food industry for over 30 years after studying Food Science at Nottingham University and obtaining an MBA at the University of Durham. He has a pedigree of 21 years of executive experience within the Kellogg company in various technical and commercial roles and latterly was a member of the European Executive Leadership Team. Peter joined Campden BRI in 2020 as Chief Operating Officer and was instrumental in setting the new strategic direction of the business. In 2021 he was promoted to the CEO role where he has further developed the executive team and led the campaign for sustainable organic growth. Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and sits on the Scientific Committee. He is a passionate senior technical R&D, quality, nutrition and regulatory executive with extensive experience in leading, creating and delivering incremental innovation and reformulating heritage brands across numerous categories and geographies.

Chris Ikpeme

Executive Director
Financial Director

Chris has been the Finance Director and Company Secretary of Campden BRI since 2019. Along with finance leadership, Chris is also responsible for governance, risk management, compliance, and information technology services. He is a Fellow member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and has over 25 years of experience in senior finance leadership roles in international scientific and technology companies such as ICI, DuPont, Koch Industries, TE Connectivity, AXA Technology and United Internet. He specialises in implementing strong financial policies and controls, developing financial systems, financial planning and analysis, restructuring programs, joint ventures, disposals and leading strategic financial change initiatives.

Alec Kyriakides

Independent Non-Executive Director

Alec is a highly respected food safety expert with extensive experience in the food and drink sector. Having started his career as a microbiologist, he spent 28 years with Sainsbury’s in various technical, safety, supplier and product quality roles and his last executive role was Head of Technical Operations. He has been involved with Campden BRI throughout his career, serving as Chair from 2017-2020 and is a current board member. In addition to his consultancy work, Alec holds several Board roles including as Board Trustee of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chair of the BRCGS International Advisory Board, Chair of Safe to Trade Technical Standards Committee, Member of the LGC Science Advisory Board and Member of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. Alec has been an active thought-leader, author, speaker, and food safety industry expert and brings a wealth of scientific knowledge with him.

Philip Moody

Independent Non-Executive Director

Philip is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair. An accountant by background, he has been a trusted advisor, mainly to clients in the food and drink industry, over many years. He is also an experienced leader of professional services firms, growing Solomon Hare to a top 20 accounting firm as Senior Partner and was Chair of Corporate Finance with Smith & Williamson. He has held board roles for over 30 years and has been a Non-Executive Director with Campden BRI since 2018. He is also Chair of family-owned brewery and pub business Frederic Robinson Ltd and Chair of Openfield Group, the UK’s largest grain marketing co-operative. He has particular strengths in the development and implementation of successful business strategy and the effective oversight of major organisational change in addition to deep financial, commercial, corporate finance and governance expertise.

Sarah Newbitt

Independent Non-Executive Director

Sarah is a plural Non-Executive Director and Executive Coach and spent most of her executive career with Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. An Engineering Graduate, Sarah began her career in manufacturing and quality roles and over the course of 25 years in Unilever, held various international roles across operations and general management. Her final role was as Vice President Supply Chain of Unilever UK and Ireland, a £2bn turnover business employing over 6,000 people. She is currently a Non-Executive Director with C & C Group plc and with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Sarah brings significant consumer goods sector insight and manufacturing, quality, and supply chain experience to the Board, together with expertise in developing and implementing sustainability strategies.

Célia Pronto

Independent Non-Executive Director

Célia is an award-winning Director with over 25 years’ experience in blue chip listed companies, PE and VC-backed startups and family-owned businesses. She has worked in subscription model businesses as well as the food manufacturing, restaurant, logistics, travel, hospitality, leisure, FMCG, E-Commerce, automotive retail, and utility sectors. She is a Non-Executive Director at Hostmore plc, Samworth Brothers, Moto Hospitality and South East Water alongside running her Digital Advisory practice, The Digital Advisory. She is also the co-founder of a female Angel syndicate investing in female founders. Célia brings expertise in developing data, marketing and digital transformation strategies in complex consumer businesses grounded firmly and pragmatically in the needs of the business and the customer.