Umberto Toniolo

R&D Director

Florence, Italy Metropolitan Area

About

18+ years of international experience in R&D, innovation, quality, and regulatory leadership across FMCG, cosmetics, and home fragrance categories. Proven track record in driving product innovation from concept to commercialization, leading cross-functional teams, and translating market trends into scalable, high-quality solutions. Passionate about sustainable innovation, operational excellence, and people development, I believe meaningful products are created where science, creativity, and consumer understanding meet. I enjoy building strong teams, developing future talent, and contributing to a more responsible and inspiring industry.

Experience

  • Director of Research Development at Vranjes Firenze
    Feb 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    R&D Director responsible for leading research, innovation, quality, and regulatory activities across cosmetics and home fragrance categories.

  • Reckitt (Permanent · 17 yrs 10 mos)
    • R&D Manager - Dish
      Jun 2023 - Jan 2026 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Innovation strategy, product development and scale up of thermoformed automatic dishwashing tablets

    • R&D Manager - Air
      Feb 2019 - Jul 2023 · 4 yrs 6 mos

      Product eCommerce focused innovation via external partnership accross multiple Home Care formats

    • Project Manager - Devices
      Jan 2016 - Jan 2019 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      E2E project management for new product development on air freshener: aerosols, liquids and electrical devices

  • Research Fellow (temp.) at INCA, Interuniversitary Consortium for the Science and the Environment
    May 2007 - Mar 2008 · 11 mos

    Eco-friendly process development for heterocyclization of bifunctional substrates