Natural colour specialist Oterra has appointed Susanne Arfelt Rajamand as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 12 October 2026, as the company looks to build on growth in natural food colours and expand its presence in key international markets.
Rajamand joins Oterra with more than 20 years of international leadership experience across the food, foodservice and consumer goods industries.
Her previous roles include senior positions at Unilever, McCormick & Company and Fonterra, while she most recently served as Group CEO of Royal Greenland.
Oterra said her commercial experience and track record of leading international growth-focused organisations will support the company as it seeks to strengthen its position in the global natural colours market.
The appointment comes amid increasing demand for naturally derived colour solutions across food categories, including confectionery, where manufacturers are continuing to explore alternatives to synthetic colours while maintaining visual appeal, stability and processing performance.
Supporting growth in natural colours
Arnd Kaldowski, Chairman of the Board at Oterra, said Rajamand’s experience made her well suited to lead the company through its next phase of growth.
“On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Susanne as Oterra’s next CEO,” he said.
He highlighted her international leadership background across major food and consumer goods businesses and pointed to Oterra’s growth opportunities, particularly in the United States.
Oterra said its US business has recorded double-digit growth during the current year, while its sales pipeline positions the company to potentially double its core US business over the next two years.
The US market is becoming increasingly important for suppliers of natural colours as food manufacturers respond to regulatory developments, changing retailer requirements and growing consumer interest in recognisable, naturally sourced ingredients.
For confectionery producers, replacing synthetic colours can present formulation challenges because natural alternatives must often perform under demanding conditions involving heat, acidity, light exposure and long shelf-life requirements.
Oterra develops colour solutions designed for a wide range of food and beverage applications, including confectionery, where colour is a major contributor to product identity and consumer appeal.
Building on an international ingredient business
Commenting on her appointment, Rajamand said she was looking forward to joining Oterra and building on the company’s existing position in natural food colours.
She said the business had established a strong global position supported by its product portfolio, workforce and opportunities for further growth, particularly as the US market continues its transition towards natural colours.
Rajamand is a Danish national and holds an MSc in Business from Copenhagen Business School as well as an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
She currently serves as a non-executive board member of Danish Crown and Protix and will formally join Oterra on 12 October.
Oterra is headquartered in Denmark and specialises in natural colours and colour solutions derived from sources including fruits, vegetables, plants and other naturally occurring raw materials.
The company has been owned by investment organisation EQT since 2021 and supplies food and beverage manufacturers across multiple markets worldwide.
Its recent growth strategy has included investments in production capacity and market expansion, alongside efforts to support manufacturers transitioning from artificial to naturally derived colours.
Rajamand’s appointment follows the departure of former CEO Martin Sonntag earlier in 2026. During the transition period, General Counsel Catja Baltser has served as acting CEO, with Kaldowski taking an expanded role as Executive Chairman.
The leadership change comes as Oterra continues to target growth in natural colour applications across confectionery and the wider food and beverage industry.
