Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, August 2026 — Oterra has appointed Susanne Arfelt Rajamand as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective October 12, 2026, as the global natural colors company looks to accelerate its next phase of international growth, with a particular focus on opportunities in the United States.
Rajamand brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience across the food, foodservice and consumer goods industries. Her career includes senior leadership roles with Unilever, McCormick & Company and Fonterra, and most recently she served as Group CEO of Royal Greenland.
Her appointment comes as Oterra seeks to build on its position in naturally sourced colors and capture growing demand for natural food colors, particularly as the U.S. market continues its transition away from artificial ingredients.
Rajamand has built her career across international, consumer-focused businesses, combining commercial leadership with experience managing growth-oriented organisations.
Her background across food, foodservice and consumer goods is expected to be particularly relevant to Oterra as the company seeks to strengthen its commercial position and expand in key international markets.
Most recently, Rajamand led Royal Greenland as Group CEO. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Unilever, McCormick & Company and Fonterra, giving her experience across several major global food and consumer businesses.
Arnd Kaldowski, Chairman of the Board of Oterra, said Rajamand’s commercial track record and experience leading international growth-focused organisations made her the right leader to build on the company’s existing foundation.
“Susanne brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience across the food, foodservice, and consumer goods industries.”
Kaldowski said the Board expects Rajamand to help further accelerate Oterra’s growth trajectory while capitalising on opportunities emerging in the U.S. market.
Oterra Targets Significant U.S. Growth
The United States is expected to be an important growth market for Oterra under its new leadership.
According to the company, its U.S. business has recorded double-digit growth this year, while its sales pipeline entering the next fiscal year positions Oterra to potentially double its core U.S. business within the next two years.
The opportunity is being supported by the ongoing conversion of the U.S. food market towards natural food colors, creating potential demand for Oterra’s portfolio of naturally sourced color solutions.
The company sees Rajamand’s international commercial experience as an important asset as it seeks to convert this market transition into sustained business growth.
Rajamand Sees Major Opportunity in Natural Food Colors
Commenting on her appointment, Susanne Arfelt Rajamand said she was excited to join a company that had established a strong global position in natural food colors.
“Oterra has built a strong position as a global leader in natural food colors, with a talented team, a strong product portfolio and a very exciting growth opportunity ahead.”
She specifically highlighted the ongoing transition of the U.S. market towards natural food colors as an important opportunity for the business.
Rajamand said she looks forward to working with Oterra’s leadership team, Board of Directors and wider organisation to build on its existing foundation and shape the company’s next chapter of growth.
Education and Board Experience
A Danish national, Rajamand holds an MSc in Business from Copenhagen Business School and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
In addition to her executive leadership experience, she currently serves as a non-executive board member of Danish Crown and Protix, providing her with additional exposure to governance and strategic oversight across food and related industries.
She will formally assume leadership of Oterra on October 12, 2026.
Growth Opportunity Around the Shift to Natural Ingredients
Rajamand takes the helm at a time when Oterra is positioning itself around the increasing demand for naturally sourced alternatives to artificial food ingredients.
Oterra provides naturally sourced colors and color solutions for the food, beverage, dietary supplements and pet food industries. Its proposition is built around helping manufacturers use natural colors while addressing requirements around authenticity, safety and sustainability.
The company’s strategy also extends across its supply chain. Oterra works closely with growers and suppliers, including through breeding programmes designed to provide access to suitable crop varieties and sourcing practices tailored to individual growing regions.
Sustainability is another component of its operating approach. The company says it continues to explore ways of improving efficiency, reducing consumption, increasing the use of renewable energy and finding alternative uses for by-products generated through production.
With Rajamand assuming the CEO role, Oterra will look to combine these capabilities with a stronger international growth agenda, particularly as changing consumer and market preferences create new opportunities for natural color solutions.
About Oterra
Oterra is one of the world’s largest providers of naturally sourced colors for the food, beverage, dietary supplements and pet food industries.
The company works with manufacturers to develop natural color solutions and advocates for a transition towards food that is free from artificial color ingredients.
Oterra works closely with growers and suppliers through breeding programmes, region-specific sourcing practices and long-term partnerships designed to support a sustainable supply of natural raw materials.
The company also focuses on reducing its environmental footprint through greater operational efficiency, lower consumption, renewable energy and the reuse of production by-products.
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